Nelle was born in Pepin county, Wisconsin, and grew up in and around Durand, Wisconsin. She was one of seven children born to Vivian and Lena Van Norman. Nelle was the youngest of four sisters (Ruth, Norma, Fay, and herself). Nelle and her sisters also grew up alongside their three brothers (Vernon, Richard, and Wesley).
Nelle graduated from Kendall College, a small liberal arts college in Evanston, Illinois. She spent her working career as a stenographer working for a legal office in Chicago, Illinois. This is where she met and fell in love with a brother of one of the lawyers practicing in the office, Leo Posner. Leo and Nelle would be married a little while after. The two initially settled on the west side of Chicago in the Austin neighborhood. They would go on to have two children, Mary in 1957 and Rick in 1961. As time went on the family decided to move to the suburban neighborhood of Skokie, Illinois. It was in this chapter of Nelle’s life that she decided it best to become a full-time stay-at-home mother while her children were in their school years. Nelle would stay at home for some time as her children grew, making sure she was always available for them and their needs.
Nelle was an avid cook and baker always preparing meals for her children, family, and friends. Nelle also loved to spend time with her family and always was one to show how much she cared for them through her acts of kindness. Nelle would hand sew clothing and Halloween costumes (and some impressive ones too) for the children, throw neighborhood parties and was a most hospitable host to other families in the neighborhood. The family would also have some memorable trips together including Mexico in the mid 1960’s, a family trip to Israel and Italy in the early 1970’s, and a trip to London in the mid 1980’s. She was truly a mother anyone could admire and did everything with all her love and intention.
After the children grew, Nelle decided to return to the work force. She ultimately found a job working as an executive secretary at G.D. Searle in Skokie, Illinois. Nelle would work there for some time but would retire from her job at Searle to take care of Leo when he fell ill with cancer. She was there by his side all the way until the end when her beloved husband Leo passed in 1983.
Nelle would move to Des Plaines, Illinois, in the early 2000’s. She became a regular at the Park Ridge Senior Center, where she indulged her artistic side. She would go on to create beautiful ceramic pieces many of which can be found in the homes of her friends and loved ones.
Nelle would move to Arizona in August of 2015 and would remain in the state the rest of her life. She was always surrounded by many friends in the senior communities that she lived in as well as many loved ones including her daughter Mary, son Rick, and her daughter in law Karin. Nelle truly spent a life dedicated to others and was always one to be kind and thoughtful to all.
Nelle was predeceased by her parents, all 6 of her siblings as well as her husband Leo.
Nelle’s memory will live on through her daughter Mary, her son Rick, and Karin, her beloved daughter in law. Her memory will also remain with many of her nieces and nephews. Nelle will be forever missed and was adored by her family and friends. She truly showed the world what it means to live a life well lived and how to be a friend, wife, and mother.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.2