Rev. John Nelson
SKANDIA, MI- Rev. J. Robert “Bob” Nelson, age 91, a long-time resident of Ishpeming and more recently of Skandia, passed away peacefully on Friday February 21, 2025, at Norlite Nursing Center in Marquette in the loving care of his family.
Bob was born and raised in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Roy and Genevieve (Olson) Nelson. He graduated from Johnsonburg High School. Following high school, he attended North Park College and Augustana College in Chicago and was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Throughout his ministry, Bob and his wife, Alice, faithfully served Evangelical Covenant Church congregations in Port Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Tustin, Michigan, and Traverse City, Michigan before moving to Ishpeming. In Ishpeming, he served as pastor at the United Evangelical Covenant Church. Every church he served had some type of building program, culminating in a complete new church building when he came to Ishpeming. Later after serving the Ishpeming church for a number of years, he changed careers and worked as a Chaplain at Marquette General Hospital until his retirement.
Bob was a member of the fire department in several of the towns he lived in and was Chaplain and daytime Fire Chief at the Elmwood Township Fire Department in the Traverse City area while he lived there.
He also had a love for singing, which led him to become a member of the Marquette Choral Society and Men’s Singing Gospel group. In his spare time, Bob enjoyed building plastic scale vehicle models, and was supportive of his children’s interests. Above all, he was known for being a people person who genuinely cared for others, making friends easily with his warm personality and kind heart.
He is survived by his children: Paul (Liz) Nelson of Gwinn, Gail (Pete) Bleidt of Lewellen, NE, Sharon Nelson-Curtice of Gwinn, and Mark (Jacquie) Nelson of Ishpeming. He was the proud grandfather of Jesse and Dustin Bleidt, Caitlin, Cooper, and Emily Curtice, Brittany (Zach) Yates, Matthew (Olivia and daughter MaryJane) Nelson, and Michael Nelson, and great-grandfather to Nora and Laney Yates. He is also survived by his cousin, Betty Lou Stahley, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of 62 years, Alice, and his brothers, Richard and Don Nelson.
Memorial services for Bob will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc P.O. Box 628211 Orlando, Florida 328628211 Richard and Cheryl Burke (#381242-RG)
Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.