David H. Nelson, 89, of Matherville, Illinois, passed away peacefully Saturday, June 15, 2024, at UPH Trinity, Rock Island, IL.

Graveside services and burial will be 1:00pm Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at St. John's Cemetery, Viola, IL. Visitation will follow from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan, IL.  Memorials may be left to St. John's Cemetery or Leader Dogs for the Blind at LeaderDog.org.

David Hiram was born on January 22, 1935, in Matherville, son of David L. and Victoria (Golick) Nelson. He was a United States Army Veteran. After the military, he attended St. Ambrose College and earned a Bachelor's degree in accounting. David married Janice Villhauer on November 28, 1959 in Oxford, IA.

David had been employed for over 40 years by Insurance companies, Aetna, INA, and Cigna, as a claims adjuster. David also enjoyed gardening and fruit trees, dogs, reading, volunteering, helping around Matherville, fixing stuff, finding a place to recycle anything and everything even before it was a norm, picking up cans, drinking coffee, smoking cigars, Sunday night pizza, and visiting with anyone he met.

He is survived by his wife, Janice; five children, David Mark Nelson, Theresa Nelson, Roger (Kelly) Nelson, Dan (Katy) Nelson, Laura Nelson; ten grandchildren, David Spenser (Victoria) Nelson, Aubrey Nelson, Christopher (Allison) Deporter, Philip (Meghan Geier) Nelson, Sarah Nelson, Charlotte Nelson, Adeline Nelson, Danny Nelson, Thomas Nelson, Caroline Nelson, two great-grandchildren (Cole and Margaret Deporter), and one cousin, Charlotte Carlson.

David was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-laws, Philip and Margaret Villhauer; daughter-in-law, Ann Marie Campagna; brother, Roger V. Nelson and his beloved dog Hunter and all the dogs before him.

Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com.

Leader Dogs for the Blind
1039 S. Rochester Rd., Rochester Hills MI 48307
Tel: 1-248-651-9011
Web: https://www.leaderdog.org