Blanche Nelson

Blanche B. (Byers) Nelson, 92, of Gibson City, formerly of Danville, Illinois entered Life Eternal Wednesday March 26, 2014 at 2:25 pm at Heritage Health Care where she had resided since February of 2008. Her family was at her bedside. Blanche was born in Danville on August 3, 1921 the daughter of Marion and Pauline (Miller) Byers. She married Harley Nelson on September 24, 1941 in Danville, Illinois. He preceded her in death on April 18, 2006 after 64 years of marriage. She is survived by two daughters; Judith (Gary) Reitz of Gibson City and Luanne (Stephen) Stuebe of Herrin, IL. She was blessed and survived by six grandchildren; Sherry Reitz-Diamond of Aurora, IL, Vickie (Kurt) Runyon of Fairbury, IL; Carrie (David) Schultheis of Edwardsville, IL; Amy (Danny) Dewrock of Cape Girardeau, MO, Shelly Dwyer of, Herrin, IL and Matthew (Lacie) Martin of Georgetown, IL; ten great-grandchildren: Kane (Ally Casey) Runyon of Peoria, IL; Mitchell Schultheis of Centralia, IL; Alexandra, and Nathaniel Schultheis of Edwardsville, IL; Jeston, Paige, and Danica Dewrock of Cape Girardeau, MO; Hannah and Abigail Sappington of Herrin, IL; and Lettie Martin of Georgetown, IL. Blanche was preceded in death by her husband, Harley A. Nelson; her mother Pauline; father, Marion; and step-father, Edgar Henderson; one daughter, Sandra Martin; one sister Norma Jean Hunter; and two brothers, John Byers and Marion (Duc) Byers. Blanche graduated from Danville High School in 1939. She sang on the radio in Danville in the late 30s and early 40s. She worked at Chuckles Candy factory. Blanche was a member of the Holiday Hills Free Methodist Church. She filled her life around her husband, children and their activities. She enjoyed traveling with family and later her and her husband enjoyed following their grandchildren in their many sports activities and taking them on vacation trips. She enjoyed church work, tending her rose gardens, cooking and baking. She and Harley were busy as volunteer mentors at the Danville Schools. Blanche also was active in Red Hats club in Danville and later in Gibson City. A Celebration of her life with a memorial service will be held at American Lutheran Church in Gibson City on Wednesday April 2, 2014 at 2:00 pm with a visitation one hour prior to service. Also a Celebration of Life will be held at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, A Life Celebration Home in Danville, Illinois on Thursday April 3, 2014 at 2:00 pm with a one hour prior visitation. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville, IL on Thursday after the service. Pastor Jim Davis of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church of Gibson City where Blanche had been attending the past eight years will officiate over both services. Memorials may be made to Heritage Health in Gibson City, American Lutheran Church in Gibson City; OSF Hospice of 211 N. Landmark, Suite D3, Normal IL; Alzheimers Association, 303 N. Hershey, Bloomington, IL; American Cancer Society; or to the donors choice. Please join Blanches family in sharing video, pictures, and memories on her tribute wall -at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com