Obituaries

February 24, 1941 to October 3, 2020

FRANCESVILLE - Ronald Eugene “Ron” Nelson, 79, of Francesville (formerly of Portland, OR), passed away at 3:38 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, following surgery at LaPorte Hospital in LaPorte.

He was born Feb. 24, 1941 in Emmetsburg, IA, the youngest of three boys born to the late Sophus and Margaret Doty Nelson. In 1959, he graduated from Mason City High School in Mason City, IA. That summer, he traveled the Midwest with the carnival. Upon returning home, he joined the U.S. Air Force. After completing basic training and tech school for Doppler radar, he was assigned to a base in Oklahoma City, OK. He was honorably discharged in 1963, just days before the start of the Vietnam War.

He is survived by:
Karen May Smith Nelson, Francesville, Wife
Joseph (Amanda) Nelson, Son
Ronald Nelson, Son
Camerin (Anna) Nelson, Francesville, Son
Kendra (Kurt) Dresner, Kirkland, WA, Daughter
5 Grandchildren: Isaac, Zoe, Jazmine, Keziah, and Kasimir
Several Nieces and Nephews

Preceded in death by:
Carol Pittman Nelson, Former Spouse
William “Bill” Nelson, Brother
1 Infant Brother

In their youth, Mr. Nelson and his older brother Bill learned to play the accordion. They won many contests throughout northern Iowa and shared the stage with Myron Florin and Lawrence Welk at the Clearwater Lake Ballroom in Iowa. He returned to Iowa after the service and explored many jobs from working in the Land-O-Lakes Creamery to truck driving. He eventually ended up in San Francisco when he landed a job with Western Union as an installer. After working throughout the western United States, he settled in Portland, Ore. He was the CEO and co-founder of Parents Anonymous Northwest, a self-help group for the prevention of child abuse.

On Nov. 22, 1974, he married wife Karen in Portland and they had two children. By 1986, he discovered his talent for home renovation and became a general contractor and licensed real estate agent. He remodeled hundreds of homes for HUD and the Department of Oregon Veterans during the 1980s recession. He retired from construction in 1994. From 1995-1997, he served as a Graphics Rep at US West Direct, alongside his wife. For a hobby, they bought a square dancing clothing store in 1995 and operated it together until 2007. After retiring again, the couple moved to a 55-plus community in Portland. But after having too much fun, they became lonely for their family and so, in 2017, they moved to Francesville to be near their son and grandkids. Mr. Nelson was a loving husband, dad, and grandpa who will be dearly missed.

No services will be held.

Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Frain Mortuary Querry-Ulbricht Chapel in Francesville.