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SPREAD EAGLE, Wis. -- Gerald Ford Nelson, 83, of Spread Eagle, passed away Sunday, June 11, 2023, at his home.
Gerald was born Feb. 10, 1940, in Rockford, Ill., son of the late Ford and June (Loy) Nelson.
Gerald graduated from high school in Winnebago, Ill., in 1958, and then joined the Air Force, where he served for four years. He moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he went to work for General Dynamics, building F-111B airplanes. His next job was working for the 301st Tactical Fighters Wing at Naval Air Station Fort Worth joint reserve base, Carswell Field, in Fort Worth.
In May 1969, Gerald met the love of his life, Darla Poss, at one of the local bowling alleys. The two hit it off and six months later they were married on November 28.
In 2001, he moved to Spread Eagle, where he worked for the Florence County School District and then the Kingsford School District, driving school bus. He retired in 2016.
Gerald enjoyed taking care of his 1941 Chris-Craft Boat, bowling, vacationing in his RV and gardening. He loved gardening so much he transported 100 types of Irises with him when he moved to Spread Eagle.
He worked for several years helping to restore the WWII Glider for the Military Museum in Iron Mountain.
Survivors include his four sons, Daniel Nelson, Gerald (Robin Andrez) Nelson, Glen (Teresa) Nelson, Chance Borden-Nelson; one brother, Curtiss (Denise) Nelson; five grandchildren, Dawn Powers (Keleigh), David (Brandi) Nelson, Hunter Nelson, Dmitri Nelson, Perry Nelson; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Darla Nelson; and two sisters, Sharlynn Seipts and Anita McClain.
Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Friday June 23, with a funeral service to follow at 9:30 a.m., at Greenwood Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Worth.
The family has chosen the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Florence, to honor Gerald's legacy of life.