Longtime Ashwaubenon leader passes away

ASHWAUBENON – Charlotte Nelson, an elected official who guided the Village of Ashwaubenon through one of its most expansive eras of growth, has passed away at the age of 89.

Nelson was first elected municipal clerk in 1973 during the time when Ashwaubenon was still a town and served in the position for the next 34 years.
A native of Baltimore, MD, Nelson graduated from St. Michael’s Business School in Baltimore and received a special work permit from the city of Baltimore to work as an executive assistant for a well-known Baltimore business leader who served as the USO Club Director during the Korean War.

While serving as hostess of the USO Club events, Charlotte met her future husband, Richard “Dick” Nelson who was then serving in the United States Coast Guard, and the couple later moved to Dick’s hometown of Ashwaubenon.
While raising her family, Charlotte first took a position with the UW-Extension Office and was later offered a job by then county clerk, Joe Liebergen, to work in the tax listing office at the Brown County Courthouse.

She was encouraged to run for the position of town clerk for Ashwaubenon in 1973 and elected every two years until her retirement in 2008.

During her 34-year tenure as an elected clerk, Nelson was recognized as “WI Clerk of the Year” by the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association, an organization for which she once also served as president.

After retiring in 2008 from the role of municipal clerk, Nelson was elected and served as trustee of the Village of Ashwaubenon for six years.

Visitation will be Saturday, Oct. 26, 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Parish in Ashwaubenon.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the church.