Glenn Lee Nelson, Sr., age 78, of Gering, NE, formerly of North Platte, passed away at the Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff on Wednesday, October 12, 2016, after a nine year battle with cancer.
Glenn was born April 27, 1938, to Owen Tielman and June Violet (Stoddard) Nelson in North Platte where he grew up. Glenn was united in marriage to Beverly Quinn. They had four children and had been married 46 years when she passed away in 2007.
Glenn worked several jobs in the North Platte and Cozad area before hiring on with the Union Pacific Railroad as a Carmen in 1968. While on the railroad, he also worked as a mechanic for Time and Tool, the Honda Shop and Camperland. He retired from the railroad in 2000 after 32 years.
On May 27, 2009, Glenn married Berta Lineback Joy at Gering. They lived in Gering and enjoyed dancing, traveling and going to auctions together. He also liked camping, riding motorcycles, and belonged to a remote airplane club in the ’90’s. Glenn loved fixing things and was good with tools, he was Mr. Fix It. He enjoyed working on cars and could make anything work, and was a member of the High Plains Auto Club until he became too ill to continue.
Glenn was a Deacon in the Community of Christ Church and was active in youth groups and other church activities. Glenn was also involved with the Boy Scouts for 42 years, being a Cub Scout Leader, an Eagle Scout Dad, and as an adult received Order of the Arrow. He was very proud of helping young boys get a good start in life. He loved kids and never missed an opportunity to coax a smile from a baby or chat with a toddler. Glenn was a kind man who was always willing to help others. He will be missed.
He is survived by his wife, Berta, of Gering; children, Lori Edwards, of Gothenburg, Glenn Nelson, Jr., of Wakefield, KS, Mark (April) Nelson, of Lincoln, NE, and Brad Nelson, of Sutherland, NE; grandchildren, Amber (Jason) Block and Kenny Johnston, of Gothenburg, Chad (Kristina) Nelson, of Long Beach, MS, Christopher Nelson, of Salina, KS, and Cory Nelson, of Manhattan, KS, Calysta and Decon Nelson, of Lincoln; great-grandchildren, James Swanson, twins, Mason and Connor Block, Elliott Block, and Halley, Alyssa and Jace Nelson; two sisters, Pat Chittenden, of North Platte and Ann Mobley, of Maricopa, AZ; five brothers, Jim (Kathy) Nelson, of Franklin, NE, Richard Nelson, of Illinois, Dan (Sandra) Nelson, of Sutherland, NE, Harold Nelson, of Lincoln, NE, and Albert Nelson, of Omaha, NE; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.
Along with his first wife, Beverly, Glenn was preceded in death by his parents, Owen and June; brothers, Ray and Will Nelson; and grandson, Kyle Johnston.
Funeral Service will be 2 p.m. Monday, October 17, 2016, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials are to the Boy Scout Buffalo Bill District. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com.