Bennie Joe Nelson
Bennie Joe Nelson, better known as Joe, age 71, of Lima, IL, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Monday, July 19, 2010. Joe passed away in the home of his daughter, Lisa, in Lima, IL. He was born on November 28, 1938 a son of Charles Edward & Elva Ruth (Willing) Nelson in Hannibal, MO. On September 21, 1957, he was united in marriage to Viola June Milbert in Hannibal, MO. She preceded him in death. As a young lad his jobs were at Bluff City Dairy, Coca Cola Plant, Textile Company, Bleigh Brothers, Alfalfa Mill, a truck driver, International Shoe Rubber Plant, Firestone, Electric Wheel, then on to Titan Wheel for a total number of 37 years & 7 months at Firestone, Electric Wheel & Titan Wheel.
In 1969 his family moved to Marceline, IL, and in 1974 on to Lima, IL, where he resided. Joe was always a very loving person. He loved his family, his friends, he never met a stranger and he loved to joke around. It didn’t matter where Joe would be, he would always leave his mark behind with his joking ways. One of Joe’s hobbies was woodworking. He absolutely loved doing his woodworking after he would come home from work & after he retired. Some of his most famous pieces will still be remembered by family & friends in their homes today.
In September 2008 Joe was diagnosed with cancer. He spent seven weeks at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN undergoing treatments.
Joe also enjoyed camping, playing checkers, listening to country & gospel music, going to the Mule Fest, and racing golf carts with the grandkids & playing cards. Joe attended The Assembly of God Church & he spent many hours reading the Bible. On May 10, 2003, Joe went through the horrible tornado that wiped he, his children & grandchildren out of their homes and he lost most everything he had worked for. One of the things he was most happy for is that his grandchildren & great-grandchildren start their names with a “J” because of Grandpa Joe.
Joe leaves behind his children, Rebecca Lynn Krow & Mark Dwayne Nelson both of Lima, Kimberly June Nelson of Quincy, Lisa Ranee Seiz and her husband Dave & Joe Terrell Nelson both of Lima; Eleven grandchildren, Jason Krow and his wife Caroline, Aaron & Justin Krow, Jessica Nelson, Laura Sue Nelson, & Jeremy Nelson, Jacqueline & Joshua Nelson, Jayme, Justine, & JoDawn Seiz; Four great-grandchildren, Jordon & Jacob Krow, Jayden Krow & Jace Seiz; two brothers, Ray Nelson and his wife Lois of Hannibal, MO, & Charles Nelson of Hannibal; four sisters, Myrt Sinclair, Cleo Cox, Rosie Marshall and her husband Jimmy and a twin sister Betty Jane Brown and her husband Charlie. Several nieces & nephews and many many friends also survive.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Viola, and one brother, Gene Nelson.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:00 PM in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. Interment will be New Providence Cemetery near Ursa, IL. Visitation will be on Wednesday evening from 4:00 until 7:00 at the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Blessing Cancer Center. www.dukerandhaugh.com
Our deepest sympathies in the loss of your father and grandfather. Your are in our prayers and thought. We will always remember Joe for his joking and our conversation. God Speed Joe!
Sherry,
I’m so sorry about Joe. I know he’s in a better place. Just know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. In my heart I know Joe loved you very much and he will be sadly missed.
Sheila
Sherry,
I’m so glad that I got to call him grandpa even though he really wasn’t really mine, but in my heart he knew that I cared when it counted.
love,
Amanda
Sherry,
Our thoughts and prayers are going out to you at this time. You and Joe were real good friends of ours. We thought the world of you both. He will be surely missed. Call if you need us. God bless,
Junior & Gayle
All my thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I loved your dad so much and have so many good memories of all of us when we were young and so close. He was quite a guy! When we were younger I remember him as the funny uncle- always had something to say, teasing us all the time, just joking constantly. In the last 10 years after my dad died I came to know the serious side of him. The concerns that he always seemed to cover up. The thoughtfulness he had for what we were going through. He has had quite a battle the last couple of years, fought a good fight, suffered more than we can imagine and as hard as it is to let him go I know that he is in a much better place. Thats the Uncle Joe I came to know in the last two years- the spiritual, god loving man. The very last time I saw him I actually went to church with him, ate lunch with him, and visited for quite a while. I will never forget that day or the man he was. Rest in peace Uncle Joe……We will never forget u and the blessing u were in our lives.
Sherry, We are very very sorry for the loss of Joe. He was a great man and friend and we will miss him very much. Just remember that he loved you very very much, as he told us so many times in his conversations. He is now with God and out of pain and you will reunite someday. Until then just always dwell on the good times that you both enjoyed the last 8 years together. That is what he would want. We love you!
You all are in my thoughts and prayers. Still can’t believe Uncle Joe is gone. Even tho I am so far away, I still thought about him alot and knowing if I get home for another reunion, he won’t be there to see. He was an awesome guy and will always be greatly missed by us who loved him alot and will love him forever.
Deena,
I’m sincerely sorry about the loss of your uncle. My mom wishes she would have still been there in time as she went for Ray and Lois since she had known them for years and my dad James (Albert)Reddick went to school with Ray.The broken chain will link again. I do believe that we will see our loved ones again. My sincere sympathy goes out to you and your family who are in thought and prayer. God Bless.
Ray and Lois,
Our sincere and heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and your family in the loss of your brother. Mary wasn’t going to go as said she didn’t know Joe that well just met him a couple times. Then when she read in the paper that he was your brother she felt she needed to go and wishes she would have gotten there in time to see you there. I asked my mom make me a promise to wait until my days off or when I am off work to take her to town, she says she can drive and I know that she can but I worry about her. She says you all go way back since Ray, you and my dad James Albert Reddick (Buck) graduated with my dad. I do believe that we will see our loved ones again as I pray I will see my grandma,my aunt Thelma, my dad and my brother again. God Bless you and your family. You are in thought and prayers.
Gayle M.
Mary R.
My thoughts and prayers are with my uncle Joe’s children and siblings in this time of loss..
you were always my favorite great uncle. i love you. we will never forget you. you are at peace now. my grandpa gene and viola will be with you again.rest in peace.