Robert Nelson

Robert Franklin Nelson
Feb 23, 1921 - December 22, 2021
Robert (Bob) Nelson passed away peacefully at home in San Francisco on Wednesday December 22, 2021 at age 100. Bob was preceded in death by his adoring wife Jill Nelson in 2003. Bob will be sorely missed by his four children; Barbara Nelson, William Nelson, John Nelson and Michael Nelson; his grandchildren, Deborah Weisser, Rebecca Cervantes, Michelle Clark, Michael Nelson, Scott Nelson, Robert Nelson, Matt Nelson, Dominic Renteria, Astee Conradt and Billie Jo Sabel; great grandchildren Marcus, Rene, Jazmyne, Ella, Noah and Joaquin; daughters and sons in law, Kathy Nelson, Laurie Nelson, Lek Nelson, Adam Clark, Ben Gomes, Luz Cervantes, and Rebecca Schmidt.
Bob was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and lived in that area until attending college at Michigan State University, where he majored in Forestry. In his senior year he met the love of his life, Jill. After a short engagement, they met up in Reno, Nevada where they were married by her father, an ordained minister, on August 21, 1943.
At that time, Bob was in the US Forest Service and stationed in the Sierras at the Black's Mountain Experimental Station where he was doing research on logging methods. He and his young bride took up residence there and were exposed to the rowdy life and colorful language of an old-fashioned logging camp that was some 50 miles on a dirt road from the nearest town.
They quickly adapted to the rustic lifestyle and became part of the loggers' family. When the snow got too deep, winter months were spent in Berkeley where he continued his research with the University of California. After 10 months of marriage, Jill gave birth to their first child, Barby, in June of 1944. She and Barby spent two months in Berkeley while Bob was working in the Sierras, then joined him at Black's Mountain. After a few years they returned to the Milwaukee area where Bob helped his father operate his photo processing business. Bob successfully took over the business, eventually retiring in 1982.

Bob loved family activities. He was an avid sailboat racer and moved to Pewaukee Lake in 1970. He often used his sons for crew members. He also loved skiing with his family in Wisconsin, Michigan, and especially Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Upon retirement Bob and Jill moved to Marco Island, FL where they loved golfing, fishing, walking the beach, painting watercolors, and visits from his children and grandchildren. After his beloved wife Jill passed away, Bob returned to Pewaukee to be close to family. He lived at Kirkland Crossing Senior Living where he continued his passion for painting and became involved in several committees.
In 2016, wanting to be close to his west coast family, he moved to San Francisco and lived at the Carlisle, a senior living facility. At the Carlisle he made many new friends and especially enjoyed the weekly art sessions where he experimented with oil paints and created many colorful landscapes and seascapes.
Bob was always positive about the many challenges life dealt to him. He simply tried to make the best of whatever life put before him. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. A private Memorial and Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.