Obit: Nelson, Robert Joseph #2 (1936 - 2012)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Nelson, Kern, Slomski, Wissing, Rick, Ortiz, Sasse, Soerens, Balthazor, Nickel, Olson

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) January 25, 2012

Nelson, Robert Joseph (5 September 1936 –19 January 2012)

Robert Nelson, 75, of Neillsville, died Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, at the Ministry Home Care Hospice, House of the Dove, in Marshfield, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters.

Robert Joseph Nelson was born Sept. 5, 1936, in Glenbulah, the son of Earl and Cecelia (Kern) Nelson.  He attended grade school in Glenbulah and graduated from St. Anthony’s High School in San Antonio, TX.  He then worked various jobs all over the greater Milwaukee area.  In 1973, Bob enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and July 20, 1974, he was united in marriage to Nancy J. Slomski in Milwaukee.  In 1978, Bob graduated from UW-Milwaukee with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in social work. They then moved to Neillsville in 1979, and Bob got his first job in social work at the Memorial Medical Center.  He worked there for four years and then went to work at the Continental Manor Nursing Home in Abbotsford.  Later, he went to Osseo and worked at the hospital and nursing home. Bob then finished his career in Abbotsford, retiring at the age of 62.

He was a member of the United Church of Christ in Neillsville, and his hobbies included reading, listening to music and watching Green Bay Packer and Milwaukee Brewer games.  Bob also enjoyed gardening and traveling by train and riverboat.  He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who cared deeply for his family and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; four children, Gigi (Tom) Wissing and their children, Becky and Deanna, David (Ronni) Nelson and his children, Kate and DJ, Erin (Frank) Rick and their children, Aidan and Ashlyn, and Maggie (Jose) Ortiz.  Bob is also survived by five siblings, Jeannette Sasse of Plymouth, Vera (Marvin "Stormy") Soerens of Cedar Grove, LaVerne Balthazor of Mesa, AZ, Doris (Norman) Nickel of Fond du Lac, and James (Lesa) Nelson of Plymouth, along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services for Bob were held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville, with visitation from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m.  Pastor Bryan Olson officiated.  Interment will be in the Marie Louise Chapel Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to either the Clark County Humane Society, P. O. Box 127, Neillsville, WI 54456; The House of the Dove, 1000 W. 11^th Street, Marshfield, WI 54449; or the Hope Lodge, 611 Doege Street, Marshfield, WI 54449.  Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home assisted Bob’s family with funeral arrangements.