Mr. Nolan O. Nelson, 90, formerly of rural Morris, Ill., passed away peacefully in his home with his loving family by his side early Friday morning, Nov. 9, 2012.
Born May 27, 1922, in Morris, the son of Sidney and Arlotte Brewe Nelson, he received his education in the Morris schools and graduated from Morris High School with the Class of 1940. He was past president and member of the Morris Chapter FFA and was elected to the State Farmer Degree and presented with a gold key, the badge of the organization at a state FFA meeting at the University of Illinois on June 17, 1941.
He married Louise Trenter on Jan. 31, 1953, in the First United Methodist Church in Morris. He and his wife owned and operated the Sandwich Grain Company in Sandwich, Ill., for 27 years and, together, they farmed in Saratoga Township all their married life.
They enjoyed riding their bikes though the country side and playing golf. At the age of 68, he learned to fly and built and flew his ultralight airplane for many years.
Mr. Nelson was a member of the First United Methodist Church, served as a leader with the Saratoga 4-H, and served on the Saratoga Grade School Board of Education.
His hobby was showing Hereford cattle and Southdown sheep at county and state fairs and National Livestock expositions. In 1950, he proudly showed and won with Baca Royal his 1,100-pound Grand Champion Hereford steer at the Chicago International, Springfield, Ill., Kansas City Royal, Denver, Colo., San Francisco, Calif., and wound up winning and selling Baca Royal, setting the record price for a steer at the Ogden Utah Live Stock Exposition.
Surviving is his loving wife of over 59 years, Louise, and their children, Lynn and her husband, Alan Muir, and Sid and his wife, Debra Nelson; two grandsons, Michael and Daniel Nelson; two great-granddaughters, Faith and Hailey Nelson; one sister, Georgene Anderson; and two sisters-in-law, Faye Nelson and Bertie Nelson; his faithful companion “Tootsie;” and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Sherwood Nelson and Dr. Dale Nelson.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. until the time of funeral services at 11 a.m. The Rev. Scott McClellan of the First United Methodist Church will officiate at U. C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., 301 W. Washington St., Morris. Interment will follow in Saratoga Cemetery.
Preferred form of remembrance would be memorial gifts in Nolan’s memory directed to Transitions Hospice, 12040 Raymond Court, Huntley, Ill., 60142.
Condolences can be extended online to the family at www.ucdavisandsons.com.
U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., Morris, is in charge of arrangements. For information, call the funeral home at (815) 942-0084.
