Otto Nelson exemplifies service to country and community.  A retired history professor and Dean at Texas Tech University, he returned to his hometown of Owatonna in 2000.  

Since then he has been active in the Owatonna Rotary Club.  He serves on the Rotary Board of Directors and is most involved with Rotary’s high school student initiatives.   He serves on the Board of Main Street Owatonna, co-chairs the West Hills Commission and is a Trustee of the Owatonna Foundation.  Otto is also a member of the Owatonna School District 761 Foundation, the Elks Lodge, the Steele County Historical Society, the Minnesota Historical Society, and various national professional organizations, as well as an active member of Sacred Heart church.  Otto has been directly involved in United Way campaigns in San Antonio and Lubbock, Texas as well as working on United Way of Steele County campaigns and serving as the immediate past Secretary of the United Way of Steele County Board of Directors. Otto is a veteran, serving as a lieutenant in the United States Air Force from 1957-60.  He made his first Community Chest contribution in the fall of 1956 when he was 21 years old and earning a salary of $100 a month.  2007 marked Otto’s fifty-first year of giving to the United Way.Otto Nelson is the first community member inducted into the United Way of Steele County Gemstone Club.  A Diamond Donor himself, Otto is a leader among those committed community members who have given to United Way for 25 years or more in addition to sharing their time, talents and treasures with other worthwhile organizations in the community. 

Diamond Donor

25 Years

Shirley J. Abraham

Sharon M. Arndt

William L. Beer

Karen R. Benoit

Nancy J. Berndt

Janet Borwege

Brian L. Brose

Ramona E. Broughton

Ray Brueggemeier

John Burkhalter

Cherolyn A. Deml

Janet M. Dixon

George E. Dow

Kathleen A. Drouillard

Denise A. Dufresne

Thomas Dufresne

Ronda L. Fisher

Barry Gillespie

Kathleen M. Gunderson

Beth L. Halverson

Karen J. Hommedahl

Karren K. Ihrke

Dorthy D. Jackel

Judith A. Johannsen

Rebecca A. Kelm

Pamela A. Krenke

John A. Kriesel

Marsha McDonald

Lacinda M. Meyman

Otto M. Nelson

James C. Quinlivan

Charlotte M. Radtke

Deborah Rubedor

Jeffrey E. Samples

Thomas M. Schmitt

Debra J. Singelstad

Kathleen M. Smith

Newell M. Sommers

Raymond R. Stawarz

Susan R. Struthers

Luane D. Vanderberg

Roberta L. Vesely

Nancy L. Von Ruden

Rita M. Wandrey

Loretta I. Wencl                                                                        

Ruby Donor

20-24 Years

Lori J. Abbe

Renee L. Appel

Darla K. Berg

David W. Berg

Patrick D. Bird

Lee H. Boettcher

Kim A. Busho

Hjordi M. Churchill

Arlen W. Dirks

Cynthia L. Emanuelson

Cheryl L. Erdman

Timothy G. Gunderson

Jeanne H. Hankerson

Carla A. Hansen

Bradley A. Hanson

Sherri L. Heim

Jon Hilstad

James A. Huepenbecker

Andrea S. Johnson

Lynn Johnson

Barbara J. Kaplan

Mark P. Kearin

Luann M. Lafky

Jean E. McCann

Michael G. Melcher

Elaine E. Melder

Julie A. Mussman

Sandra P. Norbury

Martha C. Piepho

David W. Ramsey

Jean M. Reese

Jackie S. Reider

Mark A. Rodde

Debra J. Sommer

James A. Stephani

Richard W. Strom

Susan M. Strom

Troy A. Titus

Thomas M. Tuma

Sara L. Weber

Judith g. Whiting

David W. Wiebke

Sheila J. Willing

Sapphire Donor

10-14 Years

Melinda J. Arth

Stacey L. Bauer

Luann R. Behne

Cheryl K. Boettcher

Sara K. Borgerding

Kayla B. Cates

Ken D. Deason

Joyce A. Domino

De Lain J. Draeger

Dawn M. Ellsmore

Jennifer Erickson

Darla J. Ferch

Rose M. Ferguson

Faye K. Flemke

Annette M. Frank

Linda D. Hanson

Tina M. Heim

Vonda J. Humburg

Timothy S. Jensen

Donald Johnson

Shelly K. Johnson

Susan K. Johnson

Peter A. Kalan

Rhonda S. Kath

Brandi L. Klecker

Matthew P. Kretlow

Jane J. Krumrie

Jillian J. Laduke

Melynda M. Lisowski

Lori A. Lura

Corrine B. Mahlman

Nancy E. Mattick

Sandra L. Mattke

Katherine B. Meiners

Corey R. Mensink

Denise K. Miller

Rebecca S. Munns

Brian T. O'Neill

Brenda V. Parker

Robyn M. Prondzinski

Amy L. Purdy

Jay D. Reuvers

Kristy M. Schuler

Chad P. Schumacher

Mindy B. Smith

Lorna M. Staska

Thomas L. Staska

Kathy J. Stern

Laurie A. Stewart

Janice M. Tamke

Kari A. Thurnau

Melody S. Ulrich

John D. Welch

Denise F. Willert

Kathleen A. Wrede

Shelby L. Zempel

Emerald Donor

15-19 Years

Tracy A. Anderson

Julie A. Bartholomew

Mary C. Boettger

Barry Butler

William M. Daly

Brenda L. Dolan

John F. Fenske

Beth M. Filzen

Daniel P. Filzen

Dan R. Henrikson

Lois F. Herricks

Dennis R. Hollatz

Barbara Jacobson

Doyle K. Johnson

Kimberly A. Jorgensen

Timothy R. Kidd

Kurt E. Konold

Theresa L. Kucera

Cindy L. Langeberg

Rose M. Lein

Melynde Lroanski

Duane M. Ludewig

Gwendolyn M. Lysne

Jeffrey A. Malo

Mark Maslinski

Kathryn A. McMann

Murri J. More

Janelle L. Mortensen

Terrance W. Nafe

Julie M. Olsem

Brad Peters

Thomas S. Peterson

Reinold H. Plate

James J. Poepping

Terri L. Purdie

Dawn M. Rathai

Jeffrey M. Rathai

Linda L. Rhoades

Joan M. Rodde

Tom R. Sager

Lisa M. Shatek

Steven Turner

Shelly A. Twaddle

Mark B. Ulman

Rita M. Ward

Dean S. Wattermann

Kathryn L. Wattermann

Tonette M. Webster

Lisa L. Weller

Sherri L. Whalen

Boyd Wissbroecker

Daniel Wolfe

Vicki J. Wolfe