Obituary: Susan "Sue" Adell Nelson

Susan "Sue" Adell Nelson, 62, of Burnsville passed away Oct. 21, 2021, in Duluth, surrounded by her family. She was born on Sept. 22, 1959 in Duluth to Donald and Ardeth Pykkonen.

She was raised in Esko and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1978. She attended St. Cloud State University, graduating in 1984. Sue married John Nelson in Esko on Feb. 14, 1987.

Sue worked for 35 years with the State of Minnesota as a computer programmer/systems analyst, most notably in the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Human Services.

She belonged to the Demitasse Bible Study and the church choir at Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Burnsville. She considered them her extended family.

Sue cared deeply about her family from the immediate to the extended. She dedicated the last 18 months taking care of her parents, but she dedicated her whole life to loving her husband and supporting her children's passions from hockey rinks to theaters to international travels.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Ardeth Pykkonen.

She will be deeply missed by her husband, John, of Burnsville; children, Kiersten (Cody) Nelson of Montgomery, Nicholas Nelson of Burnsville, and Briita (Kalyn) Nelson of Seattle; brothers, Craig (Lynn) Pykkonen of Laporte, and Brent (Leah) Pykkonen of Esko; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service Friday, Oct. 29 at Lutheran Church of the Ascension, 1801 Cliff Road East, Burnsville. A luncheon will follow.

A second service will be held in Esko. Visitation is 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service Thursday, Nov. 4 at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Esko. Burial will be in the spring in St. Matthews Cemetery in Esko. Arrangements entrusted to Atkins Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St., Cloquet. To sign the guestbook and leave an online tribute, see http://www.atkinsnorth landfuneralhome.com