Dr. Paul R. Nelson

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Illinois State University University of Minnesota

FUNERAL HOME

East Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

1102 Airport Road

Bloomington, Illinois

Paul Nelson Obituary

QUINCY -- Dr. Paul R. Nelson, 96, of Normal, died at 12:45 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at Good Samaritan Home in Quincy.

Dr. Nelson was born May 15, 1919, in Virginia, Minn., the son of Paul and Helia Kestila Nelson. He married Margaret H. Ogden in Lakewood, Ohio, in 1943. She preceded him in death July 30, 2000. He later married Daisy Durrant in November 2001. She resides in Virginia, Minn.

Dr. Nelson served as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II from 1943 to 1945. He served in Greenland for a short time and ended his tour in Palm Beach, Fla.

Dr. Nelson earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota. After specialty training in pediatrics, he moved to Bloomington in 1950 to form a pediatric practice with Dr. Robert Dew. He was proud of the fact he made 15 to 20 house calls a day in the early years of his practice. The most he ever charged for a house call was $5. He retired from his private practice in 1974 and then joined Illinois State University as medical director and served until 1992.

He was a member of AMA, the Consistory, American Legion and Shrine Mohammed Temple. He loved taking trips to his cabin in Minnesota and enjoyed woodworking, fishing and being a private pilot.

His family will miss his warm and gentle presence. He will always be remembered as "Goppie" by his loving family.

Well done, Dad. We're proud of you.

Surviving are his children, Paul (Margaret) Nelson Jr. of Bloomington and Mary (George) O'Brien of Quincy; a son-in-law, John Goble of Bloomington; seven grandchildren, Dr. Lucy (Matt) Wisdom of Bloomington, Cynthia (Paul) Odland of North Carolina, Amy (Ryan) Gammelgard of Bloomington, Peggy O'Brien of Quincy, Mike (April) O'Brien of Quincy, Katie (Corey) Fagin of Missouri and Jacob (Erin) Nelson of South Carolina; 15 great-grandchildren, Parker, Lauren, Jack, Henry, Amelia, Evelyn, Benjamin, Madelyn, Mackenzie, Tyler, Luke, Connor, Cohen, Kinley and Jacob.

A daughter, Rebecca Goble, preceded him in death as well as his parents.

SERVICES: 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, memorial service celebrating his life will be held at the Second Presbyterian Church of Bloomington.

A private family graveside service will be held at a later date at East Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery at Bloomington.

MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2025 E. River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55414, or Good Samaritan Home of Quincy, 2130 Harrison, Quincy, IL 62301.

ARRANGEMENTS: East Lawn Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, 1002 Airport Road, Bloomington, Ill.

WEBSITE: www.dignitymemorial.com/east-lawn-funeral-home.

Condolences may be expressed online at whig.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Herald-Whig from Jan. 5 to Jan. 7, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Paul Nelson

7 Entries

Don & Tammy Fry

January 6, 2016

We know everyone in Dr. Nelson's family, and the countless friends he made over his 96 years, must consider it a blessing to have had him as a part of their lives for so long. He will be missed, but certainly not forgotten.

Anna Watkins Richmond

January 5, 2016

Dr. Nelson & Dr. Dew were my late sister & my pediatric doctors and I can remember going to their office on the corner of Main & Empire back in the day. I always felt comfortable with them & I even remember house calls when we were very sick. There was even a time when I walked home for lunch one day from Glenn Grade School in Normal & before I left to go back, I decided I would try to separate a cat fight which was not a good idea and Mom called & got me in to the office where I had to have stitches on my hand. We always got a safety pop sucker there too. I am so thankful to have had such wonderful dedicated doctors! My condolences to the family for your loss.

Glenn Weiss

January 5, 2016

Dr. Nelson was a physician mentor to me at the Illinois State University Student Health Service. After Dr. Nelson left ISU, I became the Medical Director there (in 1992). Paul was a great man, a great physician, and will be missed.

Val Hayes

January 5, 2016

I will Miss Doc very much here at Sunnydale. He didn't speak, yet said so much... Loved telling him stories at the dinner table about my Elli. He would just crack up.. I told him I admired him for taking care of small children, and reminded him of the xmas recital my Elli (2) was in and told him it was like trying to line up a dozen puppies at one time. He sure laughed... We had great times, I will miss him. God Bless you all at this sad time..
Val..
Social Services.

James Malone

January 4, 2016

Paul:

I remember your dad well from my paper route and office visits. He was a great guy. I will remember him in my prayers.

Jim Malone
Charlottesville, VA

Shannon Vogel Perry

January 4, 2016

Drs. Nelson and Dew taught us Pediatrics when we were nursing students at St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing (I graduated in 1959). They were good teachers and caring doctors. I am grateful for their care of our pediatric patients. And I did work several years in a premature nursery and in a pediatric hospital!

With prayers and good memories,
Shannon Vogel Perry, RN, PhD, FAAN

Walt Bergren

January 4, 2016

Paul, Linda and I were very sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. It sounds like he was quite a guy.

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