Duane Larry Nelson

Duane Larry Nelson passed away peacefully on March 15, 2026 at the age of 85 in Naples, FL. He leaves behind a life defined by devotion to his family, enduring friendships, and a deep appreciation for the simple joys of life.

Larry was born in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, to Vernon and Hilda (Zinter) Nelson. During his childhood, his family relocated to Loves Park, Illinois, where many of his earliest memories were made and lifelong friendships were formed. He was proud of the paper route he began at nine years old and cherished spending time with his brother and sister. Larry had a natural gift for bringing people together and was often the life of the party, gathering friends and planning weekend getaways.

In his twenties, Larry embarked on a great adventure, spending six months traveling throughout Hawaii with close friends-an experience that reflected his love of exploration and the outdoors. Larry also had a passion for his Corvettes and could often be found cruising the backroads with the top down on his way to car rallies with his Corvette Club.

Larry met the love of his life, Barbara Kephart, through mutual friends, and they were married October 7, 1967, in Beloit, Wisconsin, beginning 58 wonderful years of marriage. They welcomed a son, Bradley, and a daughter, Laura, and raised their family in Rockford, Illinois, where they lived for 48 years and created a lifetime of memories and friendships. Larry and Barbara loved entertaining family and friends in their home, where everyone was always welcome. Larry loved classic rock and roll music and could often be found dancing the night away. In 2015, they moved to Naples, Florida, where they embraced the sunshine, new friendships, and a vibrant community.

Larry dedicated nearly 40 years of his professional career to Rockford Machine Tool and Greenlee Textron, where he served in a variety of roles before retiring in December 1999 as Director of Materials. His work took him around the world and reflected the dedication and pride he brought to his career. Larry was deeply respected by his colleagues for his leadership, strong work ethic, and steady character.

Outside of work, Larry had many passions that brought him joy. He was a loyal Chicago Bears fan, enjoyed traveling the world with his family, followed NASCAR, and had a deep appreciation for classic muscle cars. He also expressed his creativity through painting landscapes. In Naples, Larry remained active in his community, serving as the Avellino HOA Condo President and contributing his time to the Treviso Bay Landscape Committee. Above all, he cherished spending time with friends and family and taking long walks in the Florida sunshine.

Larry is survived by his loving wife, Barbara; his son, Bradley Nelson and wife Stacey of Dallas, and their children, Thaxton, Mackenzie, Hampton, and Morgan; and his daughter, Laura Nelson McCoy and husband Jeff of Dallas, and their children, Hannah and Charlotte. He is also survived by his sister, Karen Nelson Smith and husband Allan of Cocoa Beach; his brother, Gene Nelson and wife Linda Paton of Loves Park; and his sister-in-law, Nancy Kephart Ruedebusch and husband Jim of Naples, along with many cherished nieces and nephews.

Larry's warmth, humor, and kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Larry's legacy lives on through the love of his family, the friendships he nurtured, and the many lives he touched throughout his journey.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the many dear family members, friends, caregivers, and the staff at Arden Courts, whose kindness and support were a true blessing to both Larry and Barbara.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Larry's memory to the Alzheimer's Support Network or Tunnel to Towers.