Donald Rudolph Nelson Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Donald Rudolph Nelson (Morton Grove, Illinois), who passed away on May 21, 2021, at the age of 88, leaving to mourn family and friends. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.

He was loved and cherished by many people including : his wife of 55 1/2 years Patricia Jahnke Nelson; his children, Cynthia Nelson-Garlick, Mark Nelson and Glenn Nelson. He will be missed by his grandchildren, Brandon Garlick, Justin Garlick and Derek Garlick as well as Noah Nelson, Sierra Nelson, Mariah Nelson, Joshua Nelson and late Eliana Nelson; and his sister-in-law, Kay Jahnke Petosa (Bernard Petosa), brother-in-law the late Donald Anthony Jahnke, and his nephews the late Thomas Jahnke and the late Donald Jahnke Jr.

Donald will be able to be met on his journey to heaven by his late mother Ann Slachetka Nelson and late father, Rudolph Nelson, Aunts, Uncle's and his cousins who have gone before him.

Donald Nelson retired from People's Gas Company in Chicago, Illinois where he worked as a dispatcher. Donald and Patricia raised 3 kids, put them through college, and lived to have 8 grandchildren until 7 are college-age. His grandson Derek Garlick is in the Navy where he bonded with his grandfather over experiences in Japan in the military as they were the same age during their service for our country.

Donald took his family camping in Wisconsin and would take each of his kids fishing before sunlight using a rowboat. Donald had to bait the hook, pull off fish and skin the fish to prepare for storing.
Donald was an avid chess player as he enjoyed playing and using strategies to win against other people.
Donald traveled to Israel to visit castles, pyramids and various religious destinations with a group of people and managed to wander off from the group and got into private quarters where he wasn't supposed to be.
Donald was a Cubs fan and was glad to see them finally Win the World Series.
Donald was an avid reader as he enjoyed "sitting down with a good book" learning how other people saw things.
Donald enjoyed going to the movie theatre to watch movies.
Donald enjoyed watching videos online especially documentaries.
Donald enjoyed Cream Soda and Root Beer (and even had a couple Root Beers hidden in his computer room to our surprise).
Donald was very interested in his ancestry especially since his mother told him he had a brother he never knew right before she died. We hope they are able to meet in heaven since they couldn't here while on earth.
Donald watched TV pastors and was reading multiple books about heaven and what to expect comes next after he leaves the earth.
In 2014, the family went on vacation where he went on an 800 foot mega zipline. Donald also had to get down to ground using a "Quick Flight" using a guided rope. Donald also went "Summer Tubing" down a rubber track down a hill tethered to tubes with his grandkids three times up and down the hill. Donald did not like Rollercoasters, yet he went with his grandkids on ride "Fire in the Hole" in Branson which has only one drop at the end of the ride.
Donald served in the Army in his youth as a Special Messenger (it was similar to Radar on Mash on TV).
Donald is our "Guardian Angel" to watch over all of his family, and his cousins.