August Henry Nelson, 93, of Maxwell, passed away Sunday, July 8, 2018, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. August was born May 30, 1925, in rural Sheldahl, Iowa the son of Nels and Anna (Schonhorst) Nelson. He enlisted in the Army during WWII and served in a spearhead unit of the 6th Armored Division under General George Patton. His unit was the first to reach Buchenwald Concentration Camp to liberate prisoners. After VE Day, August was training for the invasion of Japan, but the war in the South Pacific ended before his training was complete. He was then stationed in La Havre, France as an MP in the POW camp until his discharge on May 20, 1946. August returned home and married Gail Michaelson on December 28, 1946 at Salem Lutheran Church in Roland. They farmed in Story County and after his 70th crop, August retired in 2016. August is survived by his children: Linda Nelson-Johnson of Nevada, Jerry (Paula) Nelson of Dumas, Texas and Lou Ann (Mike) Longnecker of Cambridge; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his son, James; an infant grandson; and several brothers and sisters. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 at Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada with Pastor Myron Herzberg officiating. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial with military honors will follow at Center Grove Cemetery near Cambridge. Memorial contributions may be made to Memorial Lutheran Church in memory of August. Rasmusson-Bacon Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements.