Morris Eugene "Gene" Nelson

A private graveside service will take place in Oakdale Memorial Gardens in Davenport. Memorials may go to the King’s Harvest Pet Rescue No-Kill Shelter.

Gene was born on July 12, 1932, in Durant, IA. He was the son of Robert E. and Alma I. (Morris) Nelson. He graduated from Davenport High School in 1950.

He was united in marriage to Nachiko Takahashi in Japan in 1956. They later divorced. He then married Donna (Pavlovic) Metzger in 1978 in Davenport.

He served eight years in the U.S Air Force in many Far East locations including Korea and Japan. He was an Aerial Gunner/Fire Control Tech for many aircrafts including the B-26, B-29, B-36, B-50 and the B-52.

Gene worked as a Route Salesman for Peter Pan Bakery as well as an Engineering Technician at Bendix Corporation. He retired from the U.S. Army AMCCOM as an Equipment Specialist/Maintenance Support Manager on the Abrams Tank Bradley fighting vehicle turret and fire control systems. He also worked as a building-materials inside salesman at Payless Cashway Co.

His memberships included the National Rifle Assoc., American Legion, Post #26 of Davenport, Model-T Ford Club of America, Model-T Ford Club International and the Air Corps/Air Force “Old Liars Club.”

He loved spending time with his wife, family members, friends and dogs, Benji, Chewy and Rudy. Gene liked working on wood projects, veggie gardening and restoring Model-T Fords.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Donna, daughters, Cindy (Jim) Meldrum, Jane (Mike) Kane and Ann (Todd) Landauer, son, Tony (Julie) Metzger and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Joseph Metzger, grandson, Travis Weber and a brother, Homer.