Obituary for Ronald T. Nelson
Ronald T. “Ron” Nelson, age 86, of River Forest, veteran U.S. Army; beloved husband of Eileen nee Donahue and the late Nancy nee Feeley; loving father of Michael (Lorrie), Mary Ann (John) Lappe, Kevin, James, Christopher (Sue), Scott (Carol), Melissa Bouchard (Craig), Bryan (Elizabeth), Todd (Anne), Matthew and the late Maureen Kanara (Edward); cherished grandfather of Colleen Kempf (Scott), Katie Morley (Kevin), Kelly Midkiff(Matthew), Kenneth Kanara (Julie), Kristen and Keith Kanara, Lauren Lappe Wier (Matt), Emily Lappe Gammon (Ben), Brigid Lappe Stauduhar (Paul), Johnny Lappe (Fiona Scully), Meaghan Nelson, Madeline Nelson, Abbey Nelson, Ryan Nelson, Connor Nelson, Jack Nelson, Brendan Nelson, Shale Bouchard, Cambelle Bouchard, Braidy Bouchard, Ava Nelson, Molly Nelson, Carolyn Nelson and Aidan Nelson; and great-grandfather to 13. Ron also shared a special place in his heart for Eileen's children, James Jr “Fritz” (Pamela), Julie (Charlie), John, Kevin (Marie) and grandchildren Jenny, Patrick, Sean, Matthew and Meghan. Ron passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 17, 2017, with his wife Eileen and family by his side. Ron was the only son of Frank T. and Marie Nelson (Ostrowski), growing up as a child in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago Ron quickly learned the importance of hard work and perseverance. It was the fabric of this community that shaped Ron as a child, quickly learning the important values of trust, honesty and decency, lessons he practiced and lived with every day of his life. Ron attended St. Leo High School and excelled in academics and athletics, earning a scholarship to St. Norberts College. At St. Norberts College Ron and his teammates had an undefeated football season, later earning membership in the schools hall of fame. After serving as an officer in the United States Army, training troops in mountainous Colorado, Ron decided to pursue life in the private sector, returning to Chicago and the Roseland neighborhood. Joining the workforce he began a long and prosperous career in the insurance business ultimately leaving senior positions in major firms to starting R.T. Nelson and Associates, Ltd. Ron understood that it was his personal effort in his pursuits that earned success, if it was given it was not earned. Ron’s greatest success was not in the business world but in his relationship and marriage to his wife Nancy, together raising 11 children with strong Catholic values. Moving from Roseland to River Forest was a bit of a culture shock for Ron adjusting to green grass and sports such as tennis, squash and golf, activities that later proved to have a great positive impact on Ron, Nancy and their children. Ron and Nancy believed that the participation in athletics was not only beneficial for body and mind, but was a very easy method to judge somebody’s character which at the end of the game was all that mattered. Ron established lifelong friendships through his memberships in various clubs in Chicago and Naples, Florida that continue today through his children. Life for Ron was never about the score, never about material belongings or appearance of financial success. No matter what challenges came his way Ron always had a positive attitude, believing that he never had a bad day, some were just better than others. His greatest success had no room for measurement, it was his loving wife Nancy of 41 years and raising a family of eight boys and three girls. After the untimely death of Nancy, Ron remarried Eileen Dwyer another Trinity High School graduate where they spent the past 18 years caring for one another, always showing respect and love for one another. Visitation Wednesday 3 to 8 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park. On Thursday friends and family will meet at St. Luke Church, 7600 Lake St., River Forest for Mass at 10 a.m. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Misericordia (Misericordia.org) are appreciated. Funeral info: 708-383-3191 or drechslerbrownwilliams.com
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Previous Events
Visitation
Wednesday
20
Dec
3:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
Drechsler Brown & Williams Funeral Home
203 South Marion Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
Funeral Mass
Thursday
21
Dec
10:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
St. Luke Church
7600 Lake St.
River Forest, IL 60305
Please meet at church.
Cemetery Details
Location
Queen of Heaven Cemetery
1400 S Wolf Rd
Hillside, IL 60162
Memorial Contribution
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