Joseph Nelson

The Rev. Joseph Morris Nelson, age 90, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, passed away Saturday morning, Feb. 3, 2007 at Pasco Hernando Hospice in Dade City, Florida. The son of John & Blanda (Storm) Nelson, he was born on Sept. 7, 1916 in Sunnyside, Washington. A veteran of World War II, Staff Sgt. Nelson served with the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1937 to 1945 and served in the Asia-Pacific theaters. On Feb. 2, 1947, in Las Vegas, Nevada, he married the former Lucille Schanke. He graduated from the Midwest Bible & Missionary Institute in St. Louis, Missouri and began a ministry career that spanned almost 60 years. Over the years he served as pastor at Centerville Bible Church in Illinois, Walloon Lake Bible Church, Nevins Lake Bible Church, and Ventura Baptist Church, all in Michigan. He also served four terms with Baptist Mid-Missions at Victoria Baptist Bible College in Melbourne, Australia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille, on Sept. 5, 1983. Surviving are four sons, David (Marilyn) Nelson of Greenville, Paul (Janet) Nelson of Wesley Chapel, Florida, Dan (Lori) Nelson of Greenville, John (Elizabeth) Nelson of Schroon Lake, New York; six grandchildren, Dan (Heather) Nelson of Blue Springs, Missouri, Joe (Kelly) Nelson of Burnsville, North Carolina, Peter Nelson, Amanda Nelson, both of Greenville, Elizabeth (Stephen) Messinger, and Bryan Nelson, all of Schroon Lake, New York; three great grandchildren, twins Clark and Abigail Nelson, and Jack Nelson; and two nephews, Maurice Ballard of Tampa, Florida and Larry Ballard of San Jose, California. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2007 at the Nevins Lake Bible Church, 837 S. Nevins Road, Stanton, with Pastor Bob Goodenough and Pastor James Frank officiating. A luncheon will follow the service, with burial taking place privately at Sidney Township Cemetery. Visitation is Friday from 5-8 p.m. at the Brown-Teman & Christiansen Funeral Home, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, and also from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday at the church. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Nelson, please visit our flower store.