T. Robert Nelson, age 93 of Spencer, Iowa, formerly of Sibley, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at a nursing home in Spencer.
Memorial Services will be Monday, June 30, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at the United Methodist Church in Sibley. Rev. Shannon Pascual officiating.Private family burial at Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley.
Online Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to www.andringafuneralhome.com
The Andringa Funeral Home of Sibley in charge of arrangements for T. Robert Nelson.
Theodore Robert Nelson was born on November 22, 1920 in Boone, Iowa to Paul and Violet (Ericson) Nelson. He attended country school until the age of 10 when the family moved to Sibley, Iowa. He graduated from Sibley High School in 1938.
Upon graduation Bob worked for the Sibley utility crew for a summer and was a Civil Service Postal employee as a city carrier. He then entered Iowa State University in 1941 until enlisting in the Air Force in August of 1942.
Bob was married to Jean Yappen in December of 1942 and was called to military service in February 1943. Upon entering the service he trained to be a pilot and flew a B-24 Bomber for 50 missions with the 14th Air Force being stationed at Manduria, Italy; flying his missions over Europe and the Balkin countries. He was group leader in the last 25 missions while becoming a Captain. He was honorably discharged in August of 1945, having spent 11 months overseas.
Upon his discharge for the service Bob returned to Iowa State College. He taught in the Engineering Department in his senior year. He accepted a position at the Sibley State Bank for 4 years and then was partner in the Ford garage in 1951 where he spent the next 11 years. Bob went back in the Sibley State Bank in 1962 and stayed for 13 more years. He worked for Mauch Oil in 1976 as a salesman for farm tires until 1987.
Bob and Jean had three children, Stephen, Deborah and William.
Real Estate was something he really loved and will be remembered for the many buildings he remodeled or built during his life in Sibley. He also loved horses and raised and boarded them for a number of years.
Bob was a member of the Sibley Methodist Church since 1930 and served on the Administration Board and sang in the choir. Bob and Morris Snow purchased and planted all of the evergreen trees at the current Methodist Church. He was active in community affairs, belonged to the Rotary Club and served as President of the School Board for 6 years.
In 1987 he moved to Scottsdale, Arizona where he worked at the Tournament Players Club golf course for 10 years as a ranger and worked for Safeway Grocery Store for the next 7 years. He also did handy man work for lots of senior citizens. In 2004 he moved back to Spencer, Iowa and worked for Ace Hardware for 3 years assembling furniture, etc.
Bob is survived by daughter, Deborah Eckerman RN (Lindsay) of Forest City, IA, son, WilliamNelson DDS (Diane) of Larkspur, CO, daughter-in-law, Westy Nelson of Council Bluffs, IA, 7 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, one sister, Anita Billings of Scottsdale, AZ, friend, Elaine Orthmann of Spencer, IA, and many relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Violet Nelson, a son, Dr. Stephen Nelson, brothers, Norman Nelson and Dean Nelson, and sisters, Imogene Tillotson and Joan Lane.
