LANARK – Garla Mae Nelson, 73, of Lanark, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, peacefully at home with her family at her side.

Garla was born April 25, 1939, in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond J. and Helen Winfred (Hughes) Smith. She graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in DeWitt, Iowa, with the class of 1957. On June 16, 1973, Garla married Robert Nelson in DeWitt. 

Garla worked for the Iowa State Bank in Clinton, Iowa, for 18 years as head cashier and vice president. She then enjoyed several years as a stay-at-home mom while raising her children. After moving to St. Anthony, Iowa, Garla was a member of, and worked for, Sacred Heart Catholic Church as a secretary for 15 years. The family later moved to Polo, where Garla was a member of, and worked for, St. Mary Catholic Church as parish secretary, director of religious education and the choir director. The family then moved on to Lanark and became members of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.