White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

INDEPENDENCE – Christine Mae “Chris” (Leary) Nelson, 72 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died, Thursday, October 2, 2025, at her home in Independence after a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. – Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church, Independence, with burial at Cedar Crest Cemetery in Jesup, Iowa.

Visitation will be 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence.

Chris was born December 16, 1952, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond Roger Leary and Mabel Ingeborg (Petersen) Leary. She attended school in Independence and graduated from Jefferson High School with the class of 1971. She continued her education at the Allen Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as a Registered Nurse.

Chris married Roger D. Johnson on July 29, 1978, and that is when Roger and Mike came into her life. They divorced in 1993. On October 14, 2006, Chris was united in marriage to David L. Nelson at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence. They made their home in Independence, and enjoyed more than 18 years of traveling, golfing, and spending time together.

Chris worked at People’s Memorial Hospital in Independence where she built her nursing career on knowledge, compassion, and integrity. She touched the lives of countless patients over her 37 years at the hospital, managing the Specialty Clinic for the last 18 years of her career. She retired in 2011. After retirement, Chris stayed active in the community, serving on multiple boards and taking on leadership roles that included being a past board member of the Cedar Valley Hospice, Relay for Life Chairperson, current member of the Buchanan County Health Center Board of Trustees, and an active member of Buffalo Creek Golf Club in Winthrop, Iowa, where she has hit a hole in one, and has been the Club Champion on multiple occasions.

Chris was a natural caretaker. She always stepped up for others in their time of need. She loved to bake, especially her Christmas cookie recipe, and she was a talented landscaper and gardener with a vast knowledge of plants and flowers. Above all else, her family and friends were most important to her. She loved watching the grandchildren’s events, visiting with her sisters, wintering in Florida with Dave, laughing and sharing stories with her friends, and traveling all over North America. Her positive attitude was contagious, and her smile could brighten any room.

Chris is survived by her husband, Dave Nelson of Independence; four sons, Roger Johnson and Mike (Jana) Johnson, all of Independence, Brian (Michelle) Nelson of Andover, Minnesota, Jeff Nelson of Independence; 12 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; her step-mother, Erma Leary of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; four sisters, Joan (Keith) Oliphant of Vinton, Iowa, Betty (John) Decker of Walker, Iowa, Janice Morris of Vinton, Joyce (Ben) Decker of Victoria, Texas; one sister-in-law, Deb Nelson of Independence; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother-in-law, Cleveland “Buck” Morris.

Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice or the family to be used to establish a scholarship for future nursing students.

Arrangements are under the care of White Funeral Home, Independence, Iowa.