Robert Nelson

Some men are fortunate enough to live the American Dream, but even fewer deserve it. Bob Nelson was one of those rare few, a truly brave, hardworking man, and a great example of our Greatest Generation. He was a loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather, and a faithful friend to so many. More than anything, Bob always did what he could, and what he should, and taught us to do the same.

Bob’s story began on a cold fall day in 1926, as the snow fell outside Fargo, North Dakota. Those were such good times in this country, the heyday of the Roaring 20s, when Big Bands were king, and Prohibition was the law of the land. On November 28, 1926, a cold, snowy Sunday in Fargo, Carl and Jennie (Hoppin) Nelson celebrated the birth of their first child, a baby son they named Robert.

Robert was later joined by his little sister Shirley and his brother William in the family’s home, though sadly, his little brother died at the age of six. Bob’s dad was a hardworking man, who was wounded in World War I, and drove an ambulance for the VA Hospital, while his mother worked at the schools. The family lived in Moorhead, Minnesota, literally a stone’s throw from the state line and Fargo.

Those were lean days when Bob was growing up, and everyone did their part, including him. He had a paper route as a kid, and had his little sister pull him around in their wagon as he flung the papers to the doorsteps!

When he wasn’t delivering papers or playing in the great outdoors, Bob went to school in Moorhead, which he enjoyed. He was always an outgoing man, even at a young age, and was well-liked in school.

Bob graduated from Moorhead High School in May of 1944, and just a few days later, he went down to the Army recruiting office, and enlisted to serve his country. He knew firsthand of his father’s sacrifice, and had a deep respect for service.

Bob served in the South Pacific during World War II, bravely fighting in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre. When the war ended, Bob returned home in 1946, ready to claim that share of the American Dream he’d fought so hard for.

When he got home, Bob used the G.I. Bill to earn his engineering degree from Southwest Minnesota State University. Degree in hand, Bob took a job with Bell Telephone, which turned out to be a very dangerous job. One day Bob fell off a telephone pole, breaking his back, and requiring surgery to fuse some of his vertebrae together. He survived, but was a little worse for the wear.

In 1949, Bob met a wonderful woman named Reidun “Rae” Hanson, while attending a dance over in Fargo. It wasn’t love at first, but there was clearly a spark between them. They went on a few other dancing dates, and slowly a love began to bloom. Two years later, the two were married, on February 10, 1951, in Moorhead.

The newlyweds weren’t together very long, however. The country had entered another war, so Bob went back into the service, re-enlisting in the Army on February 26, 1951. Bob got some sad news as he was traveling to the service, when his father died.

Over the next three years, Bob and his bride kept in contact through many letters, and their connection and love grew stronger. So when he was discharged in 1954, they wasted little time starting their family, with their son Bruce born that same year. Bill followed in 1958, daughter Bobbie in 1961, and Bethanie was born in 1964, though she sadly died the same day.

Bob was a wonderful husband and father, and together they formed a very close-knit family. They loved to go camping together, or staying at their cottage in the summertime, whiling away the days swimming and fishing and enjoying each other’s company. Bob was a great outdoorsman, who loved to hunt pheasant, or fish for walleye and northern pike, and shared these loves with his children. They’d all pile in the station wagon, hitch up the pop-up camper, and head off somewhere whenever they could.

The family lived in Fargo when the kids were young, where Bob provided for them by working at General Foods, a job that eventually moved them to Monroe, Michigan. Later on, Bob went to work for several hospitals, using his engineering skills to streamline facility programs. He worked all over the state of Michigan, from Jackson, to Grand Rapids, to Fremont and more.

He was always so happy to come home, of course, to spend time with his beloved family. Whenever he came home he enjoyed playing ping pong or softball with the kids. He was as involved as he could be, and was the secretary “in absentia” for his kids’ Boy Scout troop, Rae remembers, and she did all the work!

Bob had many other passions and pastimes, too. He was an outgoing, high-strung man, who loved to tease people near and dear to him. He loved to fish, and pan-fried walleye was his all-time favorite meal (and maybe a little licorice, too). He was also a longtime Kiwanis member, as well as a proud member of the Sons of Norway, the DAV, and a lifetime member of the American Legion, too. (Bob didn’t have much need for people who didn’t serve their country!) He was also an active member of Christ Lutheran Church, where the family attended, and Bob served on various committees there over the years.

Bob loved country music, especially Johnny Cash and the Gatlin Brothers, and loved to tinker around the house listening to them, with his beloved dog, Pepsi Marie, by his side. Bob always loved dogs, and animals in general.

After he retired, Bob began enjoying golf, playing with his son-in-law, Mark, and his grandson CJ. He’d ask Mark which club to use, and then scold him if he hit it poorly! But he loved any excuse to be near his family, especially his grandkids. Bob and Rae took the grandkids on many vacations, from two days to two weeks, visiting Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, and everywhere in between.

Sadly, Bob’s health declined later in life, and he moved into the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans in 2005. That same year Bob and Rae suffered a tragedy when their son WIlliam passed away.

Bob died on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, at the age of 80.

Bob was a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, a life filled with proud service, dedicated work, and a devoted family. Bob’s life was truly the American Dream, a dream he fought to protect, worked hard to earn, and so richly deserved. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Bethanie; son, William; brother William; and sister and brother-in-law, Shirley (Lorne) Reid. Bob is survived by his wife, Reidun “Rae”; daughter, Bobbie (Mark) Billing; son, Bruce Nelson of Des Moines; and daughter-in-law, Audra Nelson of Des Moines. Also surviving are grandchildren, Bethanie, Carl James, and Emily Billing, Kathlyn, Caleb, Jennifer, and Grace Nelson; cousin, Clare (Marge) Nelson; and several nieces and nephews. Friends and relatives may meet his family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 1833 Plainfield NE, on Friday from 7-9 PM. A private family service will be held on Monday. Interment in Grand Rapids Home for Veterans Cemetery Memorial contributions to Hospice of Michigan or Grand Rapids Home for Veterans would be appreciated. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to read Bob’s Life Story, share a memory or photo or sign the guestbook.