Louisa T. "Lou" Nelson, 68, of Junction City, passed away on Monday, December 18, 2017, at Stormont-Vail Healthcare in Topeka, KS. A funeral service will be 9 a.m. Friday, December 29, 2017, at the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Chapel in Junction City. A graveside service will follow the funeral service at 11 a.m. at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery 5181 Wildcat Creek Road in Manhattan, KS. A visitation will be held the evening before from 6-10 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Chapel. The family will receive friends from 6-7:30 Thursday evening. A personal reflection service and condolence service will follow the receiving of friends until 10 p.m..

Louisa was born May 8, 1949, in Ta'u Manu'a, American Samoa, the daughter of Tafea Aufotu and Simeamativa (Levaomana) Mauga.

She met Kenneth L. Nelson in 1988. They were married February 26, 2000 in Las Vegas, NV. Together, they owned and operated Kenlu Day Care in Junction City until his death on April 6, 2015. During her life, Lou also worked as a security guard, factory worker, cashier clerk, clerk typist, patient assistant, youth care worker for a boys and girls home and was a Red Cross Volunteer. Lou also enjoyed playing bingo, going to the casino, gardening and traveling.

Other survivors include three children, Emma Pedro and her husband Tusi, Celestine Thompson and her husband Keith and Quincy Mauga and his wife Trisha. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jonathan Pedro, Jordan Pedro, Jasper Pedro, Keith Thompson, Jr., Faith Mauga-Thompson, Quincy Aufotu Mauga, Jr. and Mariah Mauga; great-grandchildren, Daniel Pedro, Jasper Pedro, Jr. and Jyricho Pedro. She is also survived by one brother, Tafea Mauga; seven sisters, Saualofa Leaeno, Puleaga Iaulualo, Saualofa Taamu, Lila Barnes, Laalaai Perosi, Lou E. Tago and Emma Masani.

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