Lynn Nelson
Kansas City, Kansas

2018 Caller / Cuer Hall of Fame

Our family moved from Peoria, Illinois to Kansas City in 1988 when my husband Jerry's work with the Santa Fe Railroad transferred their family to the area. Finding ourselves in a new city with no friends or family, we decided we needed a recreational activity that we could enjoy together, would be affordable, and would allow us to meet others in the area. They took lessons with the Swangers Square Dance Club in 1989 and became members of this club. Later they served as editor of Fed Facts square dance magazine, Heart of America President, and enjoyed the opportunity to meet and dance with people across a two-state area.

In June of 1996, she decided to become a caller. She started by attending Kaw Valley Caller School, instructed by Dana Schirmer in Topeka, Kansas, and a group of dancers. They met weekly and were a big help in improving her calling skills.

In July of 1997, she attended the Heart of America Callers School, held in Kansas City and instructed by Tony Oxendine and Jerry Junck. In September 1997, she attended the Golden Triangle Square Dance Caller College held in Woodville, Texas, with Wayne Morvent and Wade Driver. In 2000, 2004 and 2010 she again went back to the Heart of America Callers School to work with Jerry Junck, Paul Henze and Tim Marriner to try to refine some of her skills.

She has been the Club Caller for the B-N-R Squares since May '97. In 1999, she was asked to be the club caller for the Mustangs Square Dance Club in Overland Park, Kansas. The Mustangs closed the club in May 2011.

In May 1999 we lost Jerry following open heart surgery. Square dancing and calling became my salvation. Lynn found herself either out calling, dancing, or teaching 5-6 nights a week. The activity she loved became the best stress reliever she could have ever imagined. The friendship, support, and comfort found among other square dancers in unequaled by anything else in my life.

Since becoming a caller, she has become active in several Callers1 organizations including, CALLERLAB; KAMO Callers, Cuers and Partners; NE KS Callers and KS State Callers. She has served as an officer in several positions in both NE KS Callers and KAMO Callers.

In the spring of 2014, she was honored to be named Co-Caller of the Year and inducted into the Heart of America Federation's Caller/Cuer Hall of Fame.

In the years since she began calling, she has traveled all over the states of Kansas and Missouri, up into Nebraska, Iowa, down to Arkansas and Texas, in Illinois and even out to Wyoming to call and has danced in several other states, as well. In 2015, she began teaching lessons in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and was able to call a dance there, as well as continuing lessons in 2016. As of 2017, in Texas, she has a full program of lessons and a weekly dance, as well as a couple of special dances. She has also called at several national conventions and state conventions.

Whenever ask, she does specials for schools, youth groups, retirement homes. Always trying to get the activity out for all to see. She also has served on many committees for the national square dance conventions.

Lynn has two children, a son Tim (belter known as TJ) and daughter Cindi. TJ is the father of Lynn's only grandchild, Jaxxson.

Biography