Jessica Elizabeth (Nelson) Novacek

A Celebration of Life for Jessica (Nelson) Novacek will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at Bethel Lutheran Church of Stafford, with a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Jessica unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at Sanford Medical Center in Bemidji, MN.

Jessica Elizabeth Nelson was born in Roseau, MN on April 5, 1962 to Erwin and Leona (Novacek) Nelson. She grew up on the farm in Stafford Township and graduated from Roseau High School in 1981. Though Jessica’s life was altered by a serious illness shortly before her 4th birthday, she remained strong and independent despite the life-long challenges she faced. Her love for people and desire to succeed at whatever she tackled continued throughout her life. Growing up, she enjoyed time outdoors, helping on the farm, 4-H, music, and was always ready for a rousing game of Superman with family. After volunteering at the Roseau hospital in high school, she moved to Bemidji and became a nursing aid, working for a time at the hospital there in addition to volunteering at BirthRight and REM. These last several years, Jessica found great joy and friendship living at Sprucewoods and their love and care for her is greatly appreciated. Jessica’s faith in Christ was firm and she was eager to share with others how they could know salvation through Him. Though she is greatly missed, there is great peace and joy in knowing her body and mind have been made new and she stands rejoicing and singing praise now before the Lord she loved.

Jessica is survived by her sisters Sandra (Paul) Torgerson of Rush City, MN and Lisa (Eric) Nelson of Wanamingo, MN, her nephews Andrew (Kim) Torgerson of Eau Claire, WI, Jacob (Emily) Nelson of Bryan, TX, Sam (Lisa) Nelson of Burnsville, MN, Isaac Nelson of Wanamingo, MN, Luke (Amy) Nelson of Maseru, Lesotho, Africa, and John (Abi) Nelson of Kansas City, MO, her great-nephews and nieces Cole and Finn Torgerson, Robert Nelson, William Nelson, Leona and Theophilus Nelson, and Magnalia Nelson, her step-mother Marian Nelson (Roseau, MN), aunts, cousins, and step-family.

Preceeding her in death were her parents, Erwin and Leona Nelson, sister Barbara Mary Nelson, grandparents Oscar and Edith Nelson, and Joseph and Josephine Novacek.

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