Paul R Nelson

A private family graveside service will be held at a later date at East Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A memorial service celebrating his life will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, January 7, 2016 at the Second Presbyterian Church of Bloomington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2025 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55414, or Good Samaritan Home of Quincy, 2130 Harrison, Quincy, IL 62301.

Dr. Nelson was born on May 15, 1919, in Virginia, MN, the son of Paul and Helia Kestila Nelson. He married Margaret H Ogden in Lakewood, OH in 1943. She preceded him in death July 30, 2000 after 50 years of marriage. He later married Daisy Durrant in November, 2001. She resides in Virginia, MN.

Dr. Nelson served as a Captain in the US Army Air Corps during WW II from 1943 to 1945. He served in Greenland for a short time and ended his tour in Palm Beach, FL.

Surviving are his children; Paul (Margaret) Nelson Jr. of Bloomington, and Mary (George) O’Brien of Quincy; a son-in-law, John Goble of Bloomington; 7 grandchildren, Dr. Lucy (Matt) Wisdom of Bloomington, Cynthia (Paul) Odland of NC, Amy (Ryan) Gammelgard of Bloomington, Peggy O’Brien of Quincy, Mike (April) O’Brien of Quincy, Katie (Corey) Fagin of MO, and Jacob (Erin) Nelson of SC; 15 great-grandchildren, Parker, Lauren, Jack, Henry, Amelia, Evelyn, Benjamin, Madelyn, Mackenzie, Tyler, Luke, Connor, Cohen, Kinley, and Jacob. A daughter, Rebecca Goble preceded him in death as well as his parents..

Dr. Nelson earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota, and after specialty training in Pediatrics, he moved to Bloomington in 1950 to form a Pediatric Practice with Dr. Robert Dew. He was proud of the fact he made 15 -20 house calls a day in the early years of his practice. The most he ever charged for a house call was $5.00. He retired from his private practice in 1974 and then joined Illinois State University as Medical Director until 1992.

He was a member of AMA, the Consistory, American Legion, and Shrine Mohammed Temple. He loved taking trips to his cabin in Minnesota and enjoyed woodworking, fishing, and being a private pilot.

His family will miss his warm and gentle presence. He will always be remembered as "Goppie" by his loving family.

Well done, Dad. We're proud of you.

Online condolences may be shared at http://www.dignitymemorial.com/east-lawn-funeral-home.