Nels L. Andersen

Hastings resident Nels L. Andersen, 81, passed away Sunday, December 7, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family with a western playing on the television.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, December 11, 2025, at New Hope Baptist Church in Hastings with Pastor Eddie Goff officiating. Burial with military honors by the Hastings Military Honor Guard will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings, NE. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 10, from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. with family present from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be given to the church. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Nels obituary and click the play button shown toward the bottom of the page. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Nels was born December 25, 1943 to Floyd & Evelyn (Gerloff) Andersen in Hastings, Nebraska. Nels attended Juniata High School and went on to serve in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1963. That same year on November 1st he was united in marriage to Joan Pittman. To that union they were blessed with Nels David and Cynthia. He worked as a lineman for Southern Public Power for many years.

Nels enjoyed wood working in his workshop creating beautiful furniture that is still displayed in his and many of his family members' homes. Another great joy of his was baking, whether it was cakes or pies, there was not a birthday party of his children or grandchildren or church function that didn’t have one of his famous Texas sheet cakes to be enjoyed by all. He drove pharmaceutical routes for many years listening to books on tapes the entire way and never needing to follow a map. No one in our family needed to pay for Onstar because as long as we could call grandpa he could guide us anywhere. That love of driving carried on for many years as he drove the bus to pick kids up for church and Vacation Bible School, so no one ever had an excuse not to come. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gun collecting and even did stake outs at Walmart to purchase ammunition for himself and his family during the shortage.

His greatest joy was his family. He never missed a birthday party, school program, or grandparents day that a great-grandchild asked him to attend. He loved his country and was proud of his time serving in the Navy. The only thing he loved more than his family and country was our Lord. His life goal was to bring as many people to know Jesus and the Gospel as he could.

Nels was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Cyndi Kyle; sisters, Melva Stillson, Novella Brooks and Rosella Mays; brothers, Melvin and Edwin Andersen.

SURVIVORS:
Wife: 
  Joan Andersen – Hastings, NE
Son & Spouse: 
  Nels David & Christy Andersen-North Platte, NE
Grandchildren & Spouses:
  Matthew (Shannon) Andersen-Hastings, NE
  Angela (Ben) Meitl- Glenvil, NE
  Carissa Leonard- Hastings, NE
  Ashley (Curtis) Ray- Edgar, NE
  Brandon (Tisha) Garcia- Hastings, NE
  Jenna (Zachary) Brown- Hastings, NE
Great-Grandchildren: 
  Zoiee, Payzlee, Hoyt and Bowyn  Andersen
  Andrew, Carsen, Ava, Alivia and Rowen Meitl
  Taylor, Ashton and Jace Leonard Madalyn and Braycen Andersen, Cooper Shaw and Liam Ray
  Brynlee Smith, Alana, Gannon and Novalee Garcia
  Natalie and Hailey Brown