Harley Nelson

Harley A. Nelson, 90, of Danville, passed away at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at VA Illiana Healthcare in Danville. Harley was born on January 10, 1916 in Wellington, Illinois, the son of Carl Albin and Gladys Elva (Simpson) Nelson. He married Blanche B. Byers on September 24, 1941 in Danville. She survives. He is also survived by his two daughters- Judy (Gary) Reitz of Gibson City Illinois and Luanne (Stephen) Stuebe of Herrin, Illinois; one brother- Fred (Marge) Nelson of Danville; one sister- Helen (Chet) Michaels of Danville; six grandchildren- Sherry Diamond of Naples, Florida, Vickie (Kurt) Runyon Fairbury, Illinois, Carrie (David) Schultheis of Herrin, Illinois, Amy Stuebe Herrin, Illinois, Shelly (Shawn) Sappington Herrin, Illinois, and Matthew Martin of Danville; four great-grandchildren- Kane Runyon of Fairbury, Illinois and Hannah Sappington of Herrin, Illinois, Abigal Sappington of Herrin, Illinois and Mitchell Schultheis of Centralia, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter- Sandra Martin and two brothers- William and Fred Nelson. Harley graduated from West Lebanon High School, in West Lebanon, Indiana, in 1936. He served in the U.S. Army from 1940-1945 as a Tech Sergeant in WWII. He worked at Hurletron for 30 years as a machinist until he retired in 1981. Harley was a member of the Holiday Hills Free Methodist Church. He was a member of VFW Post #728. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, and lawn work. He was a member of IAM local here in Danville. He was also a volunteer mentor at Danville Schools. A celebration of the life of Harley A. Nelson will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, April 21, 2006 at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, with Pastor Russ Peters officiating. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park, with military rites conducted by the VFW Post #728. Memorials may be made to the Holiday Hills Free Methodist Church or to the Alzheimers Association.