ROBERT "BOB" LEROY NELSON

Robert LeRoy Nelson Robert (Bob) LeRoy Nelson, aged 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, December 4th, 2023. Bob was the youngest of 6 children, the only one to be born in a hospital, on October 5th, 1944 to Clara V. (Gran) Nelson and Nels Alfred Nelson in Caledonia, MN. He attended Catholic Central Grade School in Caledonia. He went on to attend Loretto (Catholic) High School, where he graduated in 1962. As a youth, Bob was an avid fisherman and hunter. He was known to bike down to the Mississippi River and many creeks around Houston County with his life-long friend Bill Hoffman. He hunted throughout the year for whatever was in season; squirrel, deer, raccoon, and rabbits. Bob's first job was assisting his brother, Merlin, cleaning the Caledonia Theater, as well as the Caledonia Bakery on Sundays. Bob also had a paper route for the first three years in High School. He then worked at the Steffen Funeral Home/Furniture Store, working for Bill and Lorraine Steffen until he left for the Air Force in 1962. Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and attended Basic Training at Lackland AFB, (San Antonio) Texas. Following Basic Training, he attended Technical School in Greenville, MS where he was trained to be a personnel specialist. Upon graduation from Tech School, Bob was assigned to RAF Alconbury, an American Base in Alconbury, UK for about a year. He then transferred for an additional year to British Base RAF Marham, Upper Marham Kingslynn, UK. Bob's last overseas assignment landed him at British Base RAF Bruggen (next to village Elmpt, 43 km west of Dusseldorf on the Dutch/German border.) Bob accepted a 3 month extension at the German base. He was discharged in June of 1966, having only 3 months remaining of his enlistment, at the port of entry. After discharge, Bob attended Winona State University for 1 year (1967/68). Bob held several brief jobs until the Houston County Highway Department, where he worked for 15 years. From 1984 until his retirement in 2009 (25 years), Bob held the position of City Clerk/Administrator for the City of Caledonia. Bob was also on the Caledonia Public School System School Board for 6 years, of which he was residing President for 4 years. Due to his love of all things hunting, he also taught the MN DNR Gun Safety Course for 6 years; instilling the importance of gun safety to his children and grandchildren. Bob met and married the love of his life, Sharon Thilmany from Winona, MN. They met on a blind date. They were married in "the Little Brown Church" in Nashua, IA in 1973. They later had their marriage blessed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Caledonia. They recently celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss, this past August. Bob was a gifted and prolific story teller. Never at a loss to jump in with a memory of his childhood or other entertaining tidbits, he was always surrounded by folk (especially young ones) in a social setting, hanging on every word. And no matter how many times they heard the Norwegian "Math" story, the grandchildren would never tire of his flawless delivery and "logical" presentation. Bob and Sharon were blessed with 3 amazing, talented and beautiful children: Valerie Lynn, Christopher Robert, and Vanessa Noel. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; daughter Vanessa; sister Beverly (Milton) Welscher; brothers Lyle (Lois Burroughs), Donald, Gerald, and Merlin (Sheila Kumpf); and a grandson, Steven Bradley Kircher. Bob is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Sharon; Daughter Valerie and son-in-law Mark Kircher of Kendall, WI and their children Zachary (children James, Ethan and Braylee) of Judsonia, AR; Jonathan of Madison, WI; Tyler (Clare) from Stetsonville, WI; Shayna from Madison, WI; Jared (Madeline and their daughter Lucia Marcella ) of Faribault, MN; Noah, Annah, Rebekah and Elijah of Kendall, WI. Son Christopher (Leah Pasillas) of Apple Valley, MN and their daughters Ruby, Audrey, Piper, and Moira. Son-in-law Rory Yuille of Glasgow, Scotland; and Sisters-in-law; Wilma Nelson and Elizabeth (Liz) Nelson (Mark Kauffman). Bob is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Bob was a pillar of regimen, truth and all that is good in this world. He was a kind, friendly, helpful, and; above all, honest and faith-filled man. He positively impacted those whom he came in contact with. He had an acute sense of humor and was a humble man who will be deeply missed. He had an amazing breadth of knowledge and memory. He used to quote theorems verbatim to his daughter when helping her with school work. He had "Roberts Rules of Order" memorized for use in public meetings. He was a brilliant, humble man and will be deeply missed by those who knew him. Bob had a love for bright colors and wouldn't want people to be saddened by his passing, so we're asking those in attendance to show off your colors, to honor him. As Bob put it, himself: "I was a Paragraph Trooper in Chairborne Division." Sgt. Nelson, you have crossed your last "t" and dotted your last "i"...now may your soul soar to the Heavens and fly. Give those we have said goodbye to, our unending love. Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him O Lord, and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him... A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am, Monday, December 18, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Caledonia. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm, Sunday, at McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia. Visitation will also be from 9:30 to 10:30 am Monday at the church. Burial with military honors will follow the service at Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia. The funeral will be live-streamed on St. Mary's Caledonia Church and School Facebook page.

ROBERT "BOB" LEROY NELSON

October 5, 1944 - December 4, 2023