Ivy L. Nelson

Ivy Lucille Nelson, born Ivy L. Jorns on August 31, 1927, passed away on March 12, 2026, at the age of 98 at Door County Medical Center following a short illness.

Raised on her family farm in Jacksonport, Ivy spent her early years working alongside her parents, Edward Carl and Martha (Lemoine) Jorns. As a young woman, she worked in her brother’s grocery store in Sturgeon Bay, the building that later became the Morning Glory Restaurant. On June 19, 1948, she married Kenneth Frank Nelson. The couple lived in Green Bay before retiring to Little Harbor. Ivy was a longtime member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

Together with Ken, Ivy was an original founder of the Botanical Gardens in Green Bay and remained actively involved for many years. In Little Harbor, she was affectionately known as the “Plant Lady” for her deep love of gardening and as the “Apple Lady” for selling apples well into her 98th year. She and Ken shared a passion for travel, exploring the United States, Mexico, and other countries in their camper. One of her most cherished adventures was a trip to Iceland with her granddaughter at the age of 90.

Ivy is survived by her children, Rod (Stephanie) Nelson and Jane (Dan) Nesbitt; eight grandchildren, Chelsea (Andrew Zahansky) Nelson, Logan (Margaret) Nelson, Erik (Ashley) Cordier, and Andrew (Kristi) Cordier; and six great-grandchildren, Henry, Lincoln, Charlotte, Violet, Teddy, and Matilda. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kenneth, three brothers, and one sister.