Hazel Grace Nelson, the daughter of Brandon Lee and Jacqueline Nicole (Shellberg) Nelson, was born June 23, 2017, in Omaha, NE.  She died March 27, 2020, at Children's Hospital in Omaha, NE, at the age of 2 years, 9 months, and 4 days.

Hazel lived on her family's ranch where she loved to walk along the side of her brothers, enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Hazel had a passion for horses and would never turn down a chance to ride. She was very fond of her dogs and loved helping to raise border collie puppies. While she loved her makeup and lipstick, painted nails and fashionable outfits, Hazel wasn't one to be afraid to get her hands dirty, in her dress and all. She loved feeding cattle in the tractor and feed wagon with her Daddy. Hazel enjoyed swinging and spending her days painting and playing with play-doh, and all cooking and baking time would allow. Hazel enjoyed any chance she could to be wined and dined and her favorite place to go was the Dew Drop Inn. Hazel loved music and any chance she could get to dance. Hazel enjoyed adventurous family vacations, that included trail riding in the Black Hills, pontooning and fishing on the Minnesota Lakes, floating down the Niobrara River, and most recently experiencing a Texas welcome to the Fort Worth Stockyards and the American Rodeo. Hazel adored her in-home nurses and their caring hands that loved and spoiled her daily. It was the highlight of her day when her family would arrive home each day and she would greet you with the most contagious smile that would fill your heart and soul. Despite the difficult roads Hazel traveled each day with her health, she was always gleaming with a love for life that inspired so many and touched the hearts of anyone who knew her, from the day she was born. She was a fierce and powerful warrior that would not allow her disease to define her. Hazel and her family are grateful for the loving care provided by her pulmonary hypertension team, surgeon, and all who cared for her at Children's Hospital, giving her a chance to shine, and that she did. She will be greatly missed.

Hazel is preceded in death by her uncle Jacob Shellberg; her great grandparents, Loyd and Margaret O'Neill, Gus and Pauline Nelson, Dewey Shellberg, and Larry Marxen.

Hazel is survived by her parents Brandon and Jackie Nelson of Minden, IA; her brothers: Jacob, Cooper, and Stockton; her grandparents:  Gary and Julie (O'Neill) Nelson of Minden, IA, Tami (Marxen) Shellberg and companion Bob of Minden, IA, and Todd Shellberg and wife Karen of Carson, IA; her great grandparents,  Gloria Shellberg of Oakland, IA, and Zelda Marxen of Ankeny, IA; her Aunts and Uncles: Sara Wallace of Smithville, MO, Brian Nelson and wife Jennifer of Neola, IA, and Matthew Nelson and Whitney Dailey of Shelby, IA.  She is also survived by many cousins, great aunts, great uncles, other relatives, and an abundance of friends.

Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be a drive by visitation at the Rieken Vieth Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, from 3-7 PM.  Please use Chautauqua Avenue from Highway 59 and turn east on Freeman Street.  We ask that you drive north through the funeral home driveway. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CARS. The family will be outside to greet you from a proper distance.  We ask that you sign the guest register at www.riekenfuneralhome.com . In lieu of flowers, please bring a children's book to donate to Children's Hospital.  Also, if you would like to make a heart with a memory/note written on it and your name,  please attach it to a piece of string or yarn, and we will hang it in a tree at the funeral home.  You may also make yard sign to put in the funeral home yard.

Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a drive-up funeral will be held at Hazel's ranch on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 1:00 PM.  20761 330 ^th Street, Minden, Iowa  51553.  Please park where you are directed. You must stay in your cars for the duration of your time at the house.  Be prepared to be in your vehicles for at least 90 minutes. Restrooms will not be available.  Please help us in following these rules.  We will be broadcasting the service on Facebook live on our Rieken Vieth Funeral Home page.

Interment will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery.  Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting the family with arrangements.

Hazel's funeral link below

https://www.facebook.com/marty.rieken.7/videos/857553618057520/

Hazel's graveside link below

https://www.facebook.com/RiekenViethFuneralHome/videos/209903570344884/

Drone View of service

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHrqphfNvbQ

Link to slideshow on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO7-NKgmJQ0