Barbara A. Nelson

She attended St. Thomas Grade School in Crystal Lake and graduated from Crystal Lake High School in 1958

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Barb married Richard Nelson, October 4, 1956 in her Junior year of High School. She fought and won the battle allowing her to walk down the aisle at her High School graduation when she was 8 months pregnant with her only daughter, Vickie Nelson Reisenbach.

The Nelson family lived in Crystal Lake, Illinois and raised their 4 children there. Barb worked as a Waitress and Hairdresser until the family purchased the Rio Vista Motel in Melbourne, FL in 1978. She was also a real estate agent while running the motel. They sold the motel in 2005 and moved to Palm Bay, Florida.

Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband and best friend, Richard (Dick) Nelson in March 2011.

She is survived by her daughter Victoria Reisenbach, an Advertising Executive of Albuquerque, New Mexico; sons Rory (Barbara) Nelson, retired detective with the Melbourne Police Department and Investigator for the States Attorneys Office; Richard John Nelson (Craig Carson), Broker/Owner of RE/MAX 2000 Realty offices in Melbourne, FL and Palm Bay, Florida; Christopher (Samantha) Nelson, Sales Representative of Lincoln, Nebraska; Grandchildren Shawn (Stephenie) Nelson of Palm Bay, FL, Katie (Neilll) Nelson Brooks of Palm Bay, FL, Roman (Kat) Nelson, Max Nelson, and Isabella Nelson of Lincoln, NE; Great Grandchildren Dillon Nelson and Amy Lyn Nelson; and her sister-in-law, Jackie Mertens Strandberg of Madison, Florida.

The family will receive friends on Monday March 9, 2015 from 6-8PM at Fountainhead Funeral Home on Babcock. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday March 10, 2015 at 11AM at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church on Malabar in Palm Bay. Immediately following the service, a reception will be held at Fountainhead Funeral Home.

Condolences may be shared at www.fountainheadfuneralhome.com