Rodney Leonard Nelson, 62
Published 10:06 am Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Rodney Leonard Nelson, 62, a resident of Portland, Tennessee, died Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, at Tri-Star Hendersonville Hospital after a short battle with lung cancer.
Nelson
The Hayfield/Sargeant area native was born Dec 1, 1951, in Dodge Center, Minnesota, to the late Robert C. and Beth I. Abel Nelson. He was a retired truck driver, enjoyed carpentry projects, gardening, old country music favorites, and farming. He had an entertaining sense of humor, and he loved visiting with neighbors and people in general. For many years, he served as a deacon at the White Hill Community Church in Millersville and proudly served our country in the United States Army and Minnesota National Guard.
He married Susan Willis in July 1977, but later divorced. From this union, he had one daughter, Josette and two sons, Michael and David. In
In June 2009, he married Linda Trotter in Tennessee.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Trotter Nelson, and her two daughters, Connie (Chris) Freeman and Jennifer McGraw; one daughter, Josette (Levi) Van Pelt, of Fort Bragg, North Carolina; two sons, Michael (Kelsey Kent) Nelson, of Rochester, Minnesota; David (Tammy Jones) Nelson, of Westmoreland, Kansas; three sisters, Sharon Wussow, of Rochester; Carol (James) Kmiecik, of St Paul, Minnesota; and Barbara Nelson, of Rochester; four brothers, Robert (Mary) Nelson, of Lyle, Minnesota; Ralph Nelson, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Roger(Jacque) Nelson, of Sargeant, Minnesota; and Russell (Debbie) Nelson, of Brownsdale, Minnesota; grandchildren, Tad (Taylor) Cunningham, Marcus Chavez, Jeanette and Lincoln Van Pelt, Brock Nelson, Tyler Bursey, Katrina, Brittany and Isabella Freeman and Charlie Mullins, three aunts, Marilyn (Dick) Houdek, Elsie Abel and Florence Nelson; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by five brothers; infant twins, Richard and Roy; and Reinold “Babe” Nelson.
A memorial service was held on Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, at his church, White Hill Community Church in Millersville, Tennessee.
A private family entombment service was conducted Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014, at the Historic Spring Hill Cemetery Serenity Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee. Arrangements have been entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, Nashville, 615-865-1101.