George W. Nelson
George W. Nelson, 74, of 2923 Lincoln Hill SW passed away peacefully on Tuesday (November 15, 2011) in Sunset Home surrounded by family.
George was born on May 9, 1937 in Teaneck,, New Jersey, a son of Dr. Alfred W. and Kathryn O’Driscoll Nelson. On December 29, 1959 George married Judith Ann (Judy) Paradise in Blessed Sacrament Church in Hannibal, Mo. She survives.
George graduated from Tenafly High School (Tenafly, New Jersey) where he was an accomplished three sport athlete. He was inducted into the Tenafly High School Hall of Fame in 1991. He attended and played football for Rutgers University and Kirksville State Teachers College (Truman State). Following graduation George returned to Tenafly where he taught and coached until 1964. George then moved to Quincy where he taught history and coached numerous sports in the Quincy Public School District until retiring in 2000.
George practiced his Catholic faith as a member of the Church of St. Peter. He was a member of the first group of lay Eucharistic Ministers in Quincy. He brought the Eucharist to the homebound and hospitalized parishioners. He sang with St. Peter Chorale and other music groups in the church. George was an active member of TEC, Cursillo and Marriage Encounter renewal movements. He served as president of the St. Peter Grade School Association and leader of the St. Peter’s Cub Scouts.
George was also active in many community organizations including: Chairman of Quincy Preservation Commission; President of Quincy Preserves; Member of the Landmarks Commission of the State of Illinois; Quincy Noon Kiwanis and Golden K; Quincy Community Theater; Boy Scouts; American Red Cross; Quinsippi Soccer League and the CYO. George volunteered at Blessing Hospital and delivered Meals on Wheels in his retirement.
George was born into a ‘Show Business’ family. His father and grandparents were Vaudeville actors and his Uncle Ozzie and Aunt Harriet Nelson had a long career in the music and television industry. He enjoyed the summer he served traveling as bodyguard for his cousin, Ricky Nelson, and visits with the family in California through the years. George carried on the tradition by participating in local theater and school productions.
Survivors also include his five children George Michael Nelson (Danielle) of Kenosha, WI; Laura Nelson of Atlanta, GA; Joe Nelson (Denise) of St. Louis; Dan Nelson (Jennifer) of St. Louis; Andy Nelson (Lori) of Quincy; and nine grandchildren: Megan Menne (Michael); Aimee, George, Stephen, Emily and Jacob Nelson all of St. Louis, Brendan and Katelyn Nelson of Quincy, and Lydia Nelson of Kenosha. He is also survived by three brothers: Richard Nelson (Joanna) of St. Louis; William Nelson of Portland, Oregon and Robert Nelson of Santa Barbara, CA, an Uncle Don Nelson of Studio City, CA along with numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Alfred Nelson.
SERVICES: George donated his body to St. Louis University for medical research. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St Peter at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday (November 26, 2011).
VISITATION: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday (November 25, 2011) at the Church of St. Peter
MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials may be made to the St. Peter School Technology Fund, the Quincy Public Schools Foundation ‘Dream Big’ campaign or the charity of the donor’s choice.
The family would like to thank George’s caregivers at Sunset Home and the Quincy Senior Center.
ARRANGEMENTS: Duker and Haugh Funeral Home (www.dukerandhaugh.com)
Condolences may be expressed at www.whig.com.
I am so sorry for your loss. Mr. Nelson was my favorite teacher in high school and I have never forgotten him. I had no interest in history at all until I was fortunate enough to have him as my teacher. My prayers are with your family.
What a wonderful man. I got to know him first as a teacher at QHS and then as a fellow board member with Quincy Preserves after I came back to Quincy. I will always remember how he tried to get me to call him George now that I was a grown-up. But old habits are hard to break and most of the time it was still “Mr. Nelson”. He was a warm and caring man and I was lucky to know him. I am so very sorry for your loss.
So sorry to hear of George’s passing. My late husband Jerry Johnston spoke often of Mr Nelson and the History classes and of Coach Nelson too.
My condolences to the Nelson Family.
I will always remember Coach as both a great coach & teacher. One of my fondest memories of high school is overhearing Coach saying how much he thought of us boys, and the great futures we were destined for in this life.
Dear Judy, I am thinking of you constantly. I really enjoyed working with George and his happy spirit the years I was at Junior High. I wish I could be there for the memorial Mass on Saturday.
I am coming to Quincy on Monday the 28th and staying until the 7th so I hope we can get together. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Special thoughts go out to Andy as I got to know him at JHS also. I found him to be a great co-worker.
I know George like Bob is in a better place and our faith is what keeps us going.
My sympathy to all your family and remember to take good care of yourself as that is very important after a great loss.
Love, Mary Kay
My Heart felt sympathy for your loss. Mr. Nelson
was the most positive influence to me in Junior High.He always had a smile and a good word to say.
God be with you and your family.
Dear Judy and Family,
Please accept our condoleces on the passing of your husband and father. George was an exceptional man and greatly influenced anyone who he came in contact with. His cheerful smile and ability to instantly make people comfortable around him were just a couple of his many attributes.
Sue and I pray that God will be a source of comfort and strength in the coming days. You can rest assured that George is in Heaven with our God and his suffering is gone forever.
If there is anything we can do, please do not hesitate to call on us.
May God bless and keep all of you.
Coach Nelson was a great guy and a quality leader He always had a friendly smile and wave for everyone. He was also a great teacher, and was the reason that I became interested in History and later got a college degree in History. Also a great Soccer and Baseball coach for all the kids. He kept it fun. He was always my favorite High School Coach for all the sports. Thanks for everything coach. I know your family will miss you.
We want to extend to your family our deepest sympathy and our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Nelson Family, I will always remember George for his kindness, what a wondeful man and friend to me.When he was President of Quincy Preserves he was after me to join for a year when I moved back to Quincy, so I served a Vice President for him and then served as a 2 term President, see what you did to me George. You sure had a wonderful husband and father. I last saw George and Judy in St. Peters after a funeral I had to come up for, I was so happy to see you both, and I will have a mass said in St. Rose of Lima church very soon. Quincy will sure miss a fine man, and gentelman too, Paul K. Geers
I send my deepest sympathy and your family is in my prayers. I had Mr. Nelson for 9th grade History and he was so nice, caring, and respectable. He will be missed.
George was such an inspiration to the new teachers when I started teaching at QJHS in 1982. He was so positive and helpful to everyone. I will always think of him fondly. He is truly a Quincy treasure.
I had Mr Nelson as a history teacher at QJHS and my father had him as a teacher at QHS in 1967..so our family knows him well…He was an amazing man and had a great gift for teaching..He will truly be missed.
he was a great teacher.sorry to hear he passed on.he will be missed!
So sorry for your loss. I was a student of Mr. Nelson’s in high school in Quincy. He was an awesome teacher who made learning about history fun! He will be greatly missed. I know he touched and impacted many lives over the years. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Sincerely,
Philena Phillips
My favorite teacher at QHS (class of 82). “Sparky” was quite the soccer coach as well. He will be missed. My condolences to his family.
Please accept my sincere you and your family. Mr. Nelson was a truly wonderful teacher and coach. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
What a wonderful and caring man George was. My
father, Ed Schroeder, admired him a lot as did I.
He was a great soccer coach and my son, Randy, played for him. He will be missed.
My sincerest sympathy to the entire family.
Sorry for your loss. I had Mr. Nelson in 8th grade at QJHS. He was a great teacher and a great guy. He will be missed.