Warren Daniel "Dan" Nilsson

Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

WARREN DANIEL NILSSON, 83, of Van Vleck, TX, and Washington Island, WI, passed away peacefully January 4, 2026, in Houston Hospice, Houston, TX.
Dan, as he preferred to be called, was born March 6, 1942, at Bellin Hospital, Green Bay, WI, to Warren and Ann Nilsson.

Warren served in the US Coast Guard during WWII while infant Dan stayed with his mother and grandparents in Green Bay and Washington Island, WI.

Dan grew up in New England where he graduated from Groton High School, Groton, CT, in 1960 and earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Rhode Island (URI) where he played four years.

Upon graduating from URI, he was hired by IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York.  While working at IBM, he completed his master's degree at New York University and his doctorate at Oklahoma State University (OSU).

While Dan was completing his degree at OSU, he met and married Beth Ward who was there with her son, Rocky, teaching and finishing her master's degree.

Following graduation, they moved to Carmel, NY, and Dan returned to IBM.  Three years later in 1976, IBM transferred Dan to Atlanta, GA, to support Atlanta University by teaching in their MBA program and bringing the university into the computer age.

While living in Atlanta, Dan accomplished his dream of writing a book, Orientation to Professional Practice (McGraw-Hill, 1980), and Beth completed her doctorate.

Together they started their own consulting firm, Nilsson & Associates, LLC.  While Dan and Beth were consulting at client locations, Rocky and his wife, Tracey, provided office and materials support.  Nilsson & Associates continued to serve clients until 2021 when covid shut down the country.

Dan never met a stranger and was an encourager to all.  His smile was contagious and his kindness never ceased.

Dan trained to become a Navigator, a Christian ministry that sharesthe gospel of Jesus and helps people grow in Christ.  He shared his faith in Jesus Christ with nearly everyone he encountered.

He was a member of First Baptist Church, Bay City, TX, and Bethel Evangelical Free Church, Washington Island, WI.

Along with leading Navigator groups, Dan led Bible studies, and most recently, Grief Share groups.  Most of all in later years, he loved preparing for and participating in Vacation Bible School at Bethel.

Dan had numerous hobbies and interests.  Photography was his favorite and he shared his knowledge and love of birding with many.  His photography from his trips around the world would make an unbelievable coffee table book.

Fishing wasn't far behind.  He was a member of the Washington Island Sportsman's Club and had many great fishing buddies, adventures, and tall tales.

His genealogy research culminated in a book that he donated to the Washington Island Historical Archives.  His love of Washington Island led him to participate in Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands in a long fight to recover those island's natural environments, restore their declining fisheries, and save their historic lighthouses.

Dan is survived by his wife, Beth, Rocky and Tracey (son & daughter in law), and Will (grandson), his siblings Norma Beaty (Don) and Nancy Main (George) along with seven nieces and three nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Ann Nilsson.

A Celebration of Life for Dan will be held at First Baptist Church, Bay City, TX, on Saturday, January 24 at 2:00pm.  Burial will be on Washington Island, WI.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Dan Nilsson to First Baptist Church, Bay City, TX. Or Bethel Evangelical Free Church, Washington Island, WI.