Lori Lee (nee Wood) Nelson was born on April 7, 1963 in Anamosa, Iowa to Leonard and Carol Wood. She attended Dubuque High School and earned a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education from the University of Dubuque. In 1985, she married Jeffrey Nelson. In 2013, Lori moved with her family to Lompoc, where Jeffrey serves as a pastor at Peace Lutheran. Lori and Jeffrey have four children, Talitha, Andrew, and Lydia all of Lompoc, and Rebekah (Justin) Wilcox of Santa Ana.

Lori always treasured children and enjoyed her calling to serve as a preschool teacher and director. She especially enjoyed directing church preschools, which she did at four ELCA churches. She also loved music and often sang to the children in her home and schools. Over the years she sang in and directed choirs. Reading was also a favorite pastime. She was especially fond of taking trips with Jeffrey and with the whole family, discovering new places and sights across the country.

Lori is survived by her husband, Jeffrey, her children, Talitha, Rebekah, Andrew, and Lydia; Her mother Carol (Paul) Beckley of Dubuque, IA; her father, Leonard, (Nelia) Wood of Anamosa, IA; and her sisters, Tami (Duane) Ernster, Shari Martelle, both of Dubuque, and Amy (Rob) Reindl of Hoffman states, IL. Lori Nelson entered the Church of Triumphant on Thursday, October 9, 2014.