Les Nelson

Leslie R. Nelson 88, of Annawan died on Sunday, January 29, 2023 at Illini Restorative Care, Silvis.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4th at Annawan Community United Methodist Church.  Rev. Rolando Renteria will officiate.  Burial will be in Annawan Cemetery, Annawan.  Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church.  Memorials may be made to Annawan Community Methodist Church or Annawan-Alba Rescue Unit.  Stackhouse-Moore, Annawan is assisting the family.

Leslie Raymond was born December 29, 1934 in Moline, IL the son of Leslie Raymond and Catherine A. (Matern) Nelson.  He graduated from Annawan High School in 1952.  He entered the U.S. Army in June 1955 and served in Germany working as a mechanic with the 34th Armored Division 82nd recon.  On December 23, 1955, he married Gerita DeVrieze in Annawan.  She survives.

Les had worked as a mechanic at Rowlett Motors, Kewanee and then went to work at Rock Island Arsenal in 1963 as a mechanic and retired as a foreman in 1988 from the assembly branch at RIA.  After retiring he worked 10 years in the parts department for Goodrich Equipment, Geneseo.

He was a member of Annawan Community United Methodist Church.  He enjoyed golf, fishing, reading, square dancing, round dancing, and wintering in Texas from 1988 to 2019.

Survivors include his wife, Gerita; two sons, Martin (Judy) Nelson, Annawan and Ronald L. (Deb Tuma) Nelson, Albert Lea, MN; six grandchildren, Craig (Mary) Nelson, Christopher (Sarah) Nelson, Curtis Nelson, and Catherine (Dillon) Ford, Fallon Nelson, and Sierra Nelson; three great grandchildren, Mark, Lyla, and Aniela; and a sister, Suzanne Nelson, Geneseo.  He was preceded in death by his parents.