Harold A. Nelson

Harold Arthur Nelson was 108 years old. He was born on February 28, 1915 on the kitchen table at their new farm in Wolbach, Nebraska. They had no heat, no electricity, and no running water.

He grew up helping his Dad farm with walking plows, horses, mules, and lots of muscle. After daily chores and perhaps shooting a pheasant out of his bedroom window for soup for dinner, he walked three miles to and from school every day for twelve years. He graduated in the Class of 1933 from Wolbach High School.

He was drafted into the Army on July 14, 1941. He was the first person in Nebraska drafted into the military, and, at age 26, was among the oldest of his fellow draftees. His military story is amazing! He was in the front-line infantry, and fought in Africa, Sicily, and Italy. He often said “I think I am probably the only one who made six amphibious invasions and survived.”

His military awards include: Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Ribbon, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, WW II Victory Medal, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Infantry’s Badge, Bronze Star, and, finally, nearly 80 years late, the Silver Star.

He had many stories of the saga of his helmet and his efforts to keep his men “fed and with water.” Being the only farmer in his company, he knew how to butcher meat and milk cows, and kept his men nourished as best he could.

He had earned enough points to return to the United States just before the invasion of southern France. He became extremely ill on the trip home, and, with all of the antibiotics on the front lines, couldn’t be treated for trench mouth until he reached Ft. Logan. After recovering, he returned to Wolbach and his sweetheart, Frances Tate. He had a 3-day leave and they rushed to Smith Center, Kansas and got married on September 19, 1944. At that time, Kansas had no restrictions and they could be married immediately by a Justice of the Peace. He always said, “Twenty dollars and 20 minutes, and it lasted almost 50 years!”

His last tour of duty was guarding German prisoners of war before being discharged at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas on June 23, 1945. He often joked, “I ate my first Army meal there and little did I know that I would live to eat my last Army meal in the same mess hall.”

After discharge, Harold and Frances settled in Denver. His brother-in-law had a job for him with Merchants Biscuit Company as a painter at 39 cents an hour. The company became Bowman Biscuit Company, then Keebler Company, where he worked for 33 years as a mechanic, maintenance foreman, then Project Engineer. His last project was a $10,000,000 new baking line for which he invented the “Nelson Lapper,” a machine to lap seven layers of dough to make the Keebler saltines tender and crispy. He retired in 1975.

They had two daughters, Carolee (and Derryl Soden) and Patricia Nelson, four grandchildren, Niccole (and Matt Harmon), Erin (and James Blue). Emily Berger (and Kevin McNamara), and Jennifer Berger (and Greg Chalfin), and six great grandchildren, Christopher Balding, Jacob Harmon, Jonathan Balding, Cody Harmon, Isabel Blue, and Jackson Blue.

He was an avid hunter. He hunted pheasants every opening day on the same farms since 1946. He got a buck deer in the mountains of Colorado every year for 47 years. Fishing was his all-time favorite.

He travelled with his family to every state in the United States, parts of Canada, Mexico, and an amazing trip to Europe. His wife, Frances, passed away very suddenly on a vacation in Wisconsin Dells in 1991.

He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 501, VFW Post 3631, Lakewood Elks #1777, American Legion Post 178, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 375, and the Society of the Third Infantry Division, US Army.

His last two big trips were very special. In August, he attended, with his family, his great grandson, Jonathan Balding’s, graduation from Marine Boot Camp in San Diego, which included sightseeing and a stop at casinos. In September, he was with his children, his grandchildren, and his great grandchildren for the celebration of his granddaughter, Jennifer, and Greg’s wedding in the beautiful hills of Roxborough Park, Colorado.

Two weeks prior to his passing, Harold, his daughter, Carolee, and her husband, Derryl, visited “his girls” and people at the casinos in Black Hawk/Central City. They always welcomed him as a hero. He lived for “My hugs from all the girls.” On the way home, they stopped on the Dean Rossi ranch, where he has fished for many, many years. He even caught two fish!

He had a rich and wonderful life. We will greatly miss him! Rest in Peace, Grandpa!