Carl was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois where his love for all Chicago sports teams began, including the losing Cubs organization. While they are not being held directly responsible for his demise, they certainly didn’t help. He attended the University of Chicago until he was drafted during his senior year. After his time spent in the Army, he met and married the love of his life, eventually settling in Jacksonville, Florida to raise his family.
He was an exceptional husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many and if he couldn’t remember your name, he just called you Guy or Bud. He had a generous heart and wonderful sense of humor. He loved all things sports, especially the sports his grandchildren played where he was well known for his overzealous opinions of the umpires’ calls.
Carl had many hobbies both before and after retiring. Before retiring, he was an avid fisherman who once got up close and personal with the Secret Service when his fishing boat drifted too close to a house on the St. Johns River where President Ford was visiting. After retiring, his “hobby” or unhealthy obsession with his yard and pool began. Sometimes we felt he loved the yard more than us, as he would spend hours hand picking the weeds from the yard and cleaning the pool multiple times a day.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years (or as he would say…59 long years) Frances Nelson (Fran), their two children Christy Perry-Barkoskie (Milford Coffey) and Michelle Gilmore (Scott Walsh), their seven grandchildren Zachary Perry, Coleson Perry (Brooke), Blake Barkoskie, Jack Walsh, Kaleb Gilmore, Rob Walsh and Kaitlyn Gilmore, his sister Elaine Earl (John), brother-in-law Tony Morreale, a niece and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Cecilia Nelson.
He will be forever in our hearts if he is not already haunting us for this obituary.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial mass and celebration that will be held at 12pm on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at San Jose Catholic Church, 3619 Toledo Rd., Jacksonville, Florida 32217. A reception will immediately follow in the Community Room.
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