Richard C. Nelson

passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 17th•

He was born in Chicago, IL on May 8, 1937 and attended Maternity BVM Catholic

Grade school on 3700 North Avenue in Chicago. While in grade school, he had a dog

named Skippy whom he was pictured with in the Chicago Tribune, after Skippy was

badly injured by a stranger and needed a cast for multiple fractures to his front left

leg.

While living in Chicago, Dick was active in the Boy Scouts and was presented the

highest ranking Eagle Scout Award by Eddie Rickenbacher. He also was a golf caddy

at several Golf Courses on the NW side of Chicago.

He graduated from Lane Technical High School in Chicago in June 1955 ..

Dick and Barbara Winn were married on October 4, 1956 and they celebrated their

54th wedding anniversary last fall.

Dick went to work in Crystal Lake, IL as an apprentice carpenter with George and Si

Zank - and worked for them for 19 years, until moving to Melbourne, FL in 1978 at

which time they purchased the Rio Vista Motel on US 1 and ran it until 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Nelson of Palm Bay, daughter, Victoria

Reisenbach of Albuquerque, NM, sons, Rory (Barbara) Nelson of Palm Bay, Richard J.

Nelson of Palm Bay and Christopher (Samantha) Nelson of Lincoln, NE.

He also is survived by 5 beautiful grandchildren, Shawn (Stephanie) Nelson of Palm

Bay, Katie Nelson of Palm Bay and Roman, Max and Isabella Nelson of Lincoln, NE.

He also leaves behind his sister Jackie Mertens Strandberg of Madison, Fl.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 5:00 - 8:00 PM at Fountainhead

Memorial Funeral Home, followed by funeral services on Thursday at 10:00 am at St.

Joseph Catholic Church on Miller St in Palm Bay. Interment will follow at Fountainhead

Memorial Park.