David Nelson

David Arthur Nelson, age 86 of Packwaukee (formerly of Poynette and Winchester) passed away on Monday, September 23, 2024 at Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena. David was born in Portage on October 13, 1937 to Alfred and Blanche (Kohlman) Nelson. David attended the rural Leeds School until he enlisted in the United States Army where he served for four years. He was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood and worked on Sherman tanks. After the service, David worked road construction building the Illinois Toll Road near Chicago. David married Helen Lichte at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Madison on September 12, 1959 and from that union were blessed with three children.

David worked for several years in Madison at various car dealerships in the body shop. His passion for auto body work led him to open Nelson Auto Body on the family farm, which he operated for many years. He also began farming with his father and eventually bought the farm and took up farming full time as well as continuing to run the body shop. He raised sheep, hogs and grew crops for the local canning companies. At one time he had a flock of over 400 sheep and served on the board of the Wisconsin Sheep Producers organization. After the kids were grown, he got out of the livestock business and went back to work on road construction where he worked until his retirement. After retirement, he and Helen moved to Winchester where they lived until 2020. David enjoyed deer hunting and was an avid Green Bay Packers and NASCAR fan. During their retirement years, David and Helen spent many winters in Arizona where David worked on making stepping stones and wooden block baskets. He didn’t lose his passion for car repair and restored his daughter’s 1970 Pontiac. He was in the process of restoring a 1958 Chevrolet Impala when his health failed in 2020 and he could no longer do the work.

David leaves behind his three children: Donna (Jeff) Beauchamp of Collinsville, IL, John of Montello, and Susan (Jeff) Moll of Niagara as well as ten grandchildren: Andrew (Kara), David (Erin), Daniel, Katherine (Kory), Elizabeth, Joanna, Ryan (Kayleen), Ross (Kimberly), Nathan (Tara), and Grant (Emily). He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren: Jordan, Bentley, Remi, Brooklyn, James, Evelyn, Ava, Blake and Elise as well as brothers: Wayne (Norma), Alfred (Barbara) along with brothers-in-law: Donovan Selle and Fred Lichte.

David is preceded in death by his parents, wife, grandson, Jason, four sisters: Manetta (Joe) Henning, Phyllis Selle, Joyce (Werner) Fansel and Donna (Richard) Stauber.

A Celebration of David Nelson’s Life will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the Crawford Funeral Home in Montello. Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM until the hour of service. Rev. Julie Krahn will preside and full military honors by American Legion Post #351 of Montello will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the family for a memorial that will be established in David’s name. 

Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Montello and Oxford is honored to be serving the family. www.CrawfordFH.com