Wendell R Nelson

Wendell R. Nelson, 91, of Monmouth, IL, passed away at 7:25 am on Friday, May 27, 2022, at his home.

Wendell was born August 31, 1930, in Monmouth, IL to Roy Leon and Mabel (Isaacson) Nelson.  He was raised and educated in Kirkwood, IL, graduating from Kirkwood High School in 1948.

Wendell met the love of his life, Dorothy Lorene Gustafson at Kirkwood High School and were high school sweethearts.  They were married at the First Lutheran Church in Monmouth on September 17, 1950 and celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in September of 2021. Wendell and Lorene honeymooned in Arizona and the Southwest United States, which began a lifelong love of traveling.

They lived in Isabela, Puerto Rico outside of Ramey Air Force Base, for three years where Wendell was stationed during the Korean War, where he earned the rank of Sergeant.  Wendell and Lorene enjoyed their time there and their daughter, Judith, was born in Arecibo during this time. Upon their return from the island life, they began a lifetime of farming in 1955 in Warren County, west of Monmouth.  This farm became a Century Farm in 2013 with the fourth and fifth generation of Nelson family farmers, their son Stan started farming with them in 1976.

Wendell and Lorene are the parents of Judith (Roger) Simmons of Beaverton, OR, Wayne (Mi Jeong) of Monmouth, IL and Stan of Monmouth, IL and 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Wendell and Lorene have traveled to all 50 states, most of the provinces in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Peru, Brazil as well as several trips to Puerto Rico.

They also traveled to Austin and Texas Hill Country to visit Wayne (Mi Jeong), who lived there for almost 30 years and to Beaverton, OR and the Pacific Northwest to visit Judith (Roger) and their family, who have lived there for over 45 years.  On their 65th anniversary, to commemorate their original honeymoon, Wayne drove them on a trip to southern Colorado, Taos, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, New Mexico, where they visited their grandson, Joel Simmons and then onto west Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Betty Gaskill and Marilyn Gunter.

Wendell’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for Unity Point Methodist Hospital and OSF Hospice for the extraordinary care they provided Wendell.

Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at Warren County Memorial Park, Monmouth, IL.  No visitation hours are planned.  Memorials may be given to the First Lutheran Church of Monmouth and left at the funeral home.  It is requested that masks be worn of ALL attending the service.  McGuire & Davies Funeral Home and Crematory, Monmouth, IL is in charge of the arrangements.