Norman August Nelson

Norman August Nelson, 93, of Argyle, Texas passed away peacefully, at his home on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Norm was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on April 6, 1932, the son of Johan (Gus) and Mable (Lundquist) Nelson. Norm’s family moved to Red Oak, Iowa where he attended school and graduated from Red Oak High School.

Following high school, he joined the United States Army and served from January 1951 to February 1954. Norm was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany during the Korean War, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant.

After serving in the Army, Norm returned to Iowa and attended the University of Iowa where he studied Business Administration and graduated in 1958. While at the university, Norm was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) fraternity and was the chapter president.

Norm was a masterful salesperson. He initially worked for Proctor & Gamble, a paint company, and even sold encyclopedias and calendars door to door. Norm then took his sales acumen to the corrugated box industry. Norm enjoyed success working for National Starch and Chemicals and then Grain Processing Corporation. While selling starch, Norm’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to purchasing a western clothing store in Muscatine, Iowa in the mid-seventies, called the Western Corral. That is where he met Rita George in 1976.

Rita and Norm were married on April 8th, 1977 and they moved to a farmhouse outside Muscatine with a lovely horse barn. Norm’s love of horses began on the farm as a child. When his children began riding it reignited his interest in horses. Once the Nelsons moved to their farm in Muscatine they began raising quarter horses. In the late 70s the Nelsons stood AQHA stallion "Reel Impressive" and in the early 80s Norm purchased the stallion "Tuffysthreebartwo" who went on to earn his AQHA championship and become a reserve world champion sire.

In 1987, Norm saw a window of opportunity to apply his personal business philosophy to the industry and started Nordic, Inc. Nordic remained a leader in the corrugated box industry for more than thirty years and still serves the Central American Market today. After starting their company, Norm and Rita moved to California in 1994 where they resided until 2013 when they moved to Arizona. In 2021 Norm and Rita relocated to Texas to be closer to family.

Norm was preceded in death by his parents, Johan and Mable Nelson and his brother John Nelson.

Norm is survived by his wife, Rita Nelson, of Argyle, Texas; his children, Nancy (Michael) Wallace of Camdenton, Missouri, Kristin Lick of Muscatine, Iowa, Mark (Yolanda) George of The Villages, Florida, Craig (Sherry) Nelson of Argyle, Texas, and Brett (Karma) Nelson of Argyle, Texas; his grandchildren, Brandy Shield, Ben (Jennifer) Scorpil, Tenille Sotelo and Andriana George, Lucy Nelson, Pierce Nelson, Peyton Nelson; great grandchildren, Skyler Shield, Alexis Shield, Lane Scorpil, Ty Scorpil, Mathew Sotelo, Easton Sotelo, Coy Sotelo and Drake Sotelo; great-great grandson, Jax Suepple, along with many relatives and friends.

Graveside services will be held at 10 am, Saturday, August 23, 2025 at the Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic, IA. A webcasting of the service will be held on Saturday for those unable to attend. Following the service a reception will be held in the Schmidt Family Funeral Home Family Center in Atlantic. Memorials can be made in Norman's honor to the donors choice in liu of flowers. The Schmidt Family Funeral Home is caring for the Nelson family at this time and condolences can be sent at: schmidtfamilyfh.com