Richard Earl Nelson, age 85, of Ottawa, passed away early Sunday morning at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday morning, December 6, 2018 at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home with Pastor Cheri Stewart officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park with full military rites conducted by the American Legion Veterans Group Post 33 Ottawa Honor Guard. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening, December 5, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Richard was born March 7, 1933 in Bradley, Illinois, the son of Algot E. and Vera (Jensen) Nelson. He married Nadene Lyon February 7, 1955 in Yakima, Washington. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Nadene, of Ottawa; children, Debra Kathryn Nelson of Ottawa, Terry Lee (Audrey) Nelson of Kokomo, IN, David Keith Nelson of Walnut, IL, Kenneth Earl (Reneé) Nelson of Ottawa, and Brian Douglas (Della) Nelson of San Francisco, CA; grandchildren, Charles Nelson, Jennifer, Jason, and Amanda Barth, Autumn, Ashley and Amy Nelson, and Zachary and Ryan Nelson; 8 great grandchildren; and a sister, Eleanor Hull, of Washington State. He was preceded in death by one grandson, Charles Nelson.
Richard was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Ottawa. He had been the manager of Rudy’s Grocery Stores of Ottawa, Streator, and Park Forest. He later was a lab tech for Borg Warner, which later became GE Plastics. In his younger years, Richard was a glider pilot and bicyclist. He enjoyed bowling, camping, and proved to be a talented woodworker. In his later years, Richard and Nadene became extremely involved in antiques. He studied music in school and was an accomplished pianist. Richard proudly served his country in the United States Army.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the First United Methodist Church of Ottawa.
Richard has been laid to rest in the Garden of Hymns.