James was born on September 16, 1916, to the late Robert and Flossie (Bruce) Nelson. He had one sister, Dorothy Shanks and three brothers; Beverly, Dewey, and Charles Nelson.
After graduating from Bremen High School, Jim moved to Evansville to work at Seeger Refrigeration Company (now Whirlpool). Jim met a young woman named Eleanor Ziliak at the boarding house where they were both living. They had their first date on Feb. 8, 1941, the same date as their daughter and granddaughter Allyson's wedding anniversary. Their friendship soon blossomed into romance, and they were married August 9, 1941. Jim and Eleanor were the proud parents of Rondle and Patricia.
Jim was a past member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Bremen, Kentucky. He was a member of Reed Lodge # 316 F & AM. and was an active member of the Scottish Rite, Hadi Shrine, No-Ruz Grotto, Kentucky Colonels, Whirlpool Management Club, and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Jim and Eleanor were active members in the No-Ruz Grotto and attended many regional and national Shrine events. Jim enjoyed dancing, playing cards, and most of all traveling. He spent many joyful days at their "lake house" at Barkley Lake.
Jim and Eleanor celebrated the births of their grandchildren: Stephanie, Allyson, Brent and Jonathan, as well as great-grandchildren: Justin, Bryson, Ellie, Adam, and Aaron.
He was always trying to teach all the grandchildren and great grandchildren how to sing "Silent Night" and how to do an Indian dance since he was so proud of being 1/32nd Cherokee Indian. This earned him the nichname of "Chief" from other relatives.
Together Jim and Eleanor traveled throughout the United States and overseas to visit their son who was in the service, and their daughter-in-law and grandchildren. They traveled to Florida, Virginia, Kansas, California, Alabama, Missouri, New Jersey, Washington, Mexico, Hawaii, Korea, the World's Fair in Canada, and many Shrine Conventions.
Jim worked at Whirlpool for forty years, primarily as a foreman in the shipping and receiving department and on the manufacturing line. He was very active in the Evansville Foreman's Club, serving for several years in leadership positions. As an active community member, Jim served as precinct election official and umpired Evansville Little League Baseball for many years.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Oliver and her husband, Mike, of Evansville; son, Rondle Nelson and his wife, Sandi, of Georgetown, Texas; brother, Charles Nelson of Bremen, Ky.; grandchildren, Stephanie, Allyson, Brent and Johnathan; and great-grandchildren, Justin, Bryson, Ellie, Adam, and Aaron.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Eleanor (Ziliak) Nelson who passed away in 2006. James is also preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Dorothy Shanks; and two brothers, Beverly Nelson and Dewey L. Nelson.
After graduating from Bremen High School, Jim moved to Evansville to work at Seeger Refrigeration Company (now Whirlpool). Jim met a young woman named Eleanor Ziliak at the boarding house where they were both living. They had their first date on Feb. 8, 1941, the same date as their daughter and granddaughter Allyson's wedding anniversary. Their friendship soon blossomed into romance, and they were married August 9, 1941. Jim and Eleanor were the proud parents of Rondle and Patricia.
Jim was a past member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Bremen, Kentucky. He was a member of Reed Lodge # 316 F & AM. and was an active member of the Scottish Rite, Hadi Shrine, No-Ruz Grotto, Kentucky Colonels, Whirlpool Management Club, and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Jim and Eleanor were active members in the No-Ruz Grotto and attended many regional and national Shrine events. Jim enjoyed dancing, playing cards, and most of all traveling. He spent many joyful days at their "lake house" at Barkley Lake.
Jim and Eleanor celebrated the births of their grandchildren: Stephanie, Allyson, Brent and Jonathan, as well as great-grandchildren: Justin, Bryson, Ellie, Adam, and Aaron.
He was always trying to teach all the grandchildren and great grandchildren how to sing "Silent Night" and how to do an Indian dance since he was so proud of being 1/32nd Cherokee Indian. This earned him the nichname of "Chief" from other relatives.
Together Jim and Eleanor traveled throughout the United States and overseas to visit their son who was in the service, and their daughter-in-law and grandchildren. They traveled to Florida, Virginia, Kansas, California, Alabama, Missouri, New Jersey, Washington, Mexico, Hawaii, Korea, the World's Fair in Canada, and many Shrine Conventions.
Jim worked at Whirlpool for forty years, primarily as a foreman in the shipping and receiving department and on the manufacturing line. He was very active in the Evansville Foreman's Club, serving for several years in leadership positions. As an active community member, Jim served as precinct election official and umpired Evansville Little League Baseball for many years.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Oliver and her husband, Mike, of Evansville; son, Rondle Nelson and his wife, Sandi, of Georgetown, Texas; brother, Charles Nelson of Bremen, Ky.; grandchildren, Stephanie, Allyson, Brent and Johnathan; and great-grandchildren, Justin, Bryson, Ellie, Adam, and Aaron.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Eleanor (Ziliak) Nelson who passed away in 2006. James is also preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Dorothy Shanks; and two brothers, Beverly Nelson and Dewey L. Nelson.
James was born on September 16, 1916, to the late Robert and Flossie (Bruce) Nelson. He had one sister, Dorothy Shanks and three brothers; Beverly, Dewey, and Charles Nelson.
After graduating from Bremen High School, Jim moved to Evansville to work at Seeger Refrigeration Company (now Whirlpool). Jim met a young woman named Eleanor Ziliak at the boarding house where they were both living. They had their first date on Feb. 8, 1941, the same date as their daughter and granddaughter Allyson's wedding anniversary. Their friendship soon blossomed into romance, and they were married August 9, 1941. Jim and Eleanor were the proud parents of Rondle and Patricia.
Jim was a past member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Bremen, Kentucky. He was a member of Reed Lodge # 316 F & AM. and was an active member of the Scottish Rite, Hadi Shrine, No-Ruz Grotto, Kentucky Colonels, Whirlpool Management Club, and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Jim and Eleanor were active members in the No-Ruz Grotto and attended many regional and national Shrine events. Jim enjoyed dancing, playing cards, and most of all traveling. He spent many joyful days at their "lake house" at Barkley Lake.
Jim and Eleanor celebrated the births of their grandchildren: Stephanie, Allyson, Brent and Jonathan, as well as great-grandchildren: Justin, Bryson, Ellie, Adam, and Aaron.
He was always trying to teach all the grandchildren and great grandchildren how to sing "Silent Night" and how to do an Indian dance since he was so proud of being 1/32nd Cherokee Indian. This earned him the nichname of "Chief" from other relatives.
Together Jim and Eleanor traveled throughout the United States and overseas to visit their son who was in the service, and their daughter-in-law and grandchildren. They traveled to Florida, Virginia, Kansas, California, Alabama, Missouri, New Jersey, Washington, Mexico, Hawaii, Korea, the World's Fair in Canada, and many Shrine Conventions.
Jim worked at Whirlpool for forty years, primarily as a foreman in the shipping and receiving department and on the manufacturing line. He was very active in the Evansville Foreman's Club, serving for several years in leadership positions. As an active community member, Jim served as precinct election official and umpired Evansville Little League Baseball for many years.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Oliver and her husband, Mike, of Evansville; son, Rondle Nelson and his wife, Sandi, of Georgetown, Texas; brother, Charles Nelson of Bremen, Ky.; grandchildren, Stephanie, Allyson, Brent and Johnathan; and great-grandchildren, Justin, Bryson, Ellie, Adam, and Aaron.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Eleanor (Ziliak) Nelson who passed away in 2006. James is also preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Dorothy Shanks; and two brothers, Beverly Nelson and Dewey L. Nelson.
After graduating from Bremen High School, Jim moved to Evansville to work at Seeger Refrigeration Company (now Whirlpool). Jim met a young woman named Eleanor Ziliak at the boarding house where they were both living. They had their first date on Feb. 8, 1941, the same date as their daughter and granddaughter Allyson's wedding anniversary. Their friendship soon blossomed into romance, and they were married August 9, 1941. Jim and Eleanor were the proud parents of Rondle and Patricia.
Jim was a past member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Bremen, Kentucky. He was a member of Reed Lodge # 316 F & AM. and was an active member of the Scottish Rite, Hadi Shrine, No-Ruz Grotto, Kentucky Colonels, Whirlpool Management Club, and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Jim and Eleanor were active members in the No-Ruz Grotto and attended many regional and national Shrine events. Jim enjoyed dancing, playing cards, and most of all traveling. He spent many joyful days at their "lake house" at Barkley Lake.
Jim and Eleanor celebrated the births of their grandchildren: Stephanie, Allyson, Brent and Jonathan, as well as great-grandchildren: Justin, Bryson, Ellie, Adam, and Aaron.
He was always trying to teach all the grandchildren and great grandchildren how to sing "Silent Night" and how to do an Indian dance since he was so proud of being 1/32nd Cherokee Indian. This earned him the nichname of "Chief" from other relatives.
Together Jim and Eleanor traveled throughout the United States and overseas to visit their son who was in the service, and their daughter-in-law and grandchildren. They traveled to Florida, Virginia, Kansas, California, Alabama, Missouri, New Jersey, Washington, Mexico, Hawaii, Korea, the World's Fair in Canada, and many Shrine Conventions.
Jim worked at Whirlpool for forty years, primarily as a foreman in the shipping and receiving department and on the manufacturing line. He was very active in the Evansville Foreman's Club, serving for several years in leadership positions. As an active community member, Jim served as precinct election official and umpired Evansville Little League Baseball for many years.
He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Oliver and her husband, Mike, of Evansville; son, Rondle Nelson and his wife, Sandi, of Georgetown, Texas; brother, Charles Nelson of Bremen, Ky.; grandchildren, Stephanie, Allyson, Brent and Johnathan; and great-grandchildren, Justin, Bryson, Ellie, Adam, and Aaron.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Eleanor (Ziliak) Nelson who passed away in 2006. James is also preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Dorothy Shanks; and two brothers, Beverly Nelson and Dewey L. Nelson.
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