Marvin Lyle Nelson

He was born April 1, 1931 in Brainerd, Minnesota and grew up on Pine Shadows Farm. He was a graduate of the University of Minnesota, earning a Ph.D. in Veterinary Physiology and Statistical Genetics for Dairy Cattle Breeding.

As a young man, Marvin managed, in partnership with his father, a family dairy operation utilizing a herd of selectively-bred, registered Guernsey cows. After completing graduate work, he went on to become Director of Animal Research and Nutrition for the Provico Feed and Grain Company, a large animal feed enterprise for beef, dairy, swine and poultry producers located in Botkins, Ohio.

In the 1960s, he supervised a world-class working research farm that developed innovative new feed products for commercial sale and conducted field-testing of scientific research initiatives from Ohio State University. Combining his knowledge of animal nutrition, commodity market pricing, and the emerging field of statistical computation, Marvin designed a computer program that calculated the ideal combination of commodity ingredients while taking into consideration the scientifically-required levels of major and minor nutrients as well as shifting monthly commodity prices. The software efficiently generated a manufacturing formula for the lowest cost feed for each animal class.

In the 1970s, under the auspices of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) an arm of The World Health Organization (WHO), he served as a management consultant in Bulgaria to develop and launch agricultural research farms modeled after the one at Provico. He later consulted in Nigeria as well.

Marvin loved to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed, which led him to be an active in a number of community organizations. He regularly attended Corpus Christi Catholic Church (CCCC) for nearly 40 years and participated in the CCCC chapter of the Knights of Columbus. He was a proud member and President-elect of the Korean War Veterans Association, based at the James A. Haley VA hospital. Throughout his life, he sought to help others and serve the communities in which he lived.

In his spare time, he enjoyed raising roses, reading, and in his younger days on the farm playing baseball, horseshoes, and cards, especially bridge.

Marvin is survived by Joan, his wife of 63 years, daughters Teresa Nelson Zimmerman (Robert) and Rebecca Nelson (Albin Krieg); sons Kent Nelson, Jay Nelson (Fannie) and Jonathan Nelson (Laura); and grandchildren Rachel and Sean Zimmerman, Giovanna and Mahala Nelson, and Olivia and Henry Nelson.

Wake: Blount Curry Funeral Home, Temple Terrace 2:30 p.m. Saturday, November 10, 2018

Mass: Sarasota National Cemetery, Veterans’ Day, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, November 11, 2018

https://floridakofc.org/event/veterans-day-mass-ceremonials-sarasota-national-cemetery-1 (see link below)

Burial: Sarasota National Cemetery, 9:30 a.m. Monday, November 12, 2018 https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/sarasota.asp

Donations: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fisher House https://www.tampa.va.gov/services/Fisher_House.asp