John Stanley Nelson's Obituary
John Stanley Nelson, 71, of Downers Grove, IL, passed away in North Muskegon, MI, on April 17, 2023. He was born March 26, 1952, in Broadview, IL, the son of Stanley Eggen and Emily Nelson.
John was a 1969 graduate of Proviso East High School, attended the University of Illinois - Chicago, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering in 1973. He began his engineering career at Fluor Engineering in Chicago and at Babcock & Wilcox in Michigan, where he helped build and engineer the Enrico Fermi II Nuclear Power Plant.
John was contemplative about the world, taking an academic interest in world events, scientific research and social dynamics. He enjoyed chess and solving the world's problems through thoughtful conversations. He could also be quite adventurous, trekking across northern California and sailing Lake Michigan on his sailboat, always surrounded by family and friends. Memories of these excursions remain sweet to this day.
Family was everything to John. He took his role as eldest son and big brother to heart. He actively participated in the lives of his nieces and nephews and devoted many years to caring for his parents near the end of their lives.
John is survived by five siblings, Theresa (Lawrence) Kruger, Cynthia Gregory, Donald (Elaine) Nelson, Rosemary (Patrick) Ingold, Patricia (Rick) Lamparzyk; fourteen nieces and nephews, and a joyful abundance of grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Emily Nelson, and sister Elizabeth A. Goddard.
A Memorial Funeral Service will be held at10:00am on Friday, May 19, at St. Bernadine Catholic Church, 7246 Harrison Street, Forest Park, IL. Burial will immediately follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL. For those who would like to leave a lasting memorial to the life of John Nelson, memorials may made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
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