Pauline Joyce Nelson

Pauline Joyce Nelson, 85, of Kansas City, Missouri, died May 29, 2026, at home. Born on April 8, 1941, in Shenandoah, Iowa, she was the eldest child of Robert Miller and Mildred Black.

Pauline graduated from Shenandoah High School in 1959. Following high school, she began her work career as a civilian employee for the Air Force. During her tenure at Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base (NE) she met and married Jack Nelson. She also had the distinction of attaining Top Secret Clearance, rare for a civilian at that time. She and Jack later settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While there she built a rewarding career as a Legal Assistant to Stephen Holtman, then Darrel Morf, at the Simmons Perrine law firm. Later she served as an Executive Administrative Assistant at Rockwell Collins before retiring in 2010. She was recognized multiple times for her outstanding performance and often remarked that she learned something valuable from every person for whom she ever worked.

In 2011, she moved to the Kansas City metropolitan area to join and be closer to her family, especially her grandchildren. She did not miss the opportunity to point out to friends and acquaintances that “if I had known how wonderful grandkids are, I would have had them first!” Nothing brought her more pride and joy than being present for the many milestones in the lives of her grandchildren. The milestone that delivered the source of greatest joy in her final years was the arrival of great-grandchildren. From the time she became a great-grandmother she became affectionately known as “GG” to her entire family.

A fiercely devoted grandmother and great-grandmother, she will be missed immensely. Survivors include her two sons, Chris (Wendy) Nelson of Kansas City, MO and Craig Nelson of Ocean Springs, MS; grandson Joel (Amanda) Nelson of Kansas City, MO; granddaughter Elizabeth (Ryan) Thomas of Kansas City, MO; great-granddaughter Rylie Thomas, great-grandson Jace Nelson, and great-granddaughter Sophia Nelson; and two brothers Frank (Jennie) Miller of Elberfeld, IN and Tom Schwartz, Lincoln, NE. Her parents and her brother Michael Miller preceded her in death.

The family will hold a private memorial service on a date yet to be determined at Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah, Iowa. To honor the memory of GG, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Pauline’s name to Missouri Lions Eye Research doing business as Saving Sight, 10650 North Ambassador Dr #210, Kansas City, MO 64153.