Obituary of Charles George Nelson

On November 23, 2020, Charles George Nelson made his last “excellent adventure” and passed from this earth into eternity to be with his Lord and Savior, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah. He lost his battle to pancreatic cancer at the age of 73. Chuck was born in Lemont, IL to Charles T. & Jeanne Harrison Nelson on March 24, 1947, as he always added, in a snow storm. Because he was lactose intolerant, right after he was born he was given last rites, but one special nun thought to give him beer in a baby bottle, and that is what kept him alive. Chuck was always gifted to fix anything. He fixed his mother’s dishwasher at the age of 9, and that began his journey through multiple careers, selling cars, constructing entertainers’ home in and around Nashville, TN, working for Auto Shack, hosting his own “fix-it” radio show on WHBQ in Memphis, and working as a representative for Stanley/Bostitch for 30+ years which took him to every state in the Union. In his “retirement” he opened Nelsons Air Tool Service in Marion, IL. In 1966, he went into the Army as part of the 101rst Airborne, 336th Assault Helicopter Company where he fixed and flew helicopters in Sac Trang, Vietnam. He loved flying so much he signed up for a second year, and in 1968 he survived the Tet Offensive. Chuck was a giving man, sometimes to his hurt. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and a past president of the Rotary Club in Marion, IL. Chuck was married several times in his life, but on Sept. 28, 2013, as he would say after minding his own business, he married Debra (O’Neil) Nelson. They both told each other that they were the loves of their lives and that love grew stronger every day. He would also say about her, “May the fourth be with me.” Chuck announced to Debra’s mother, Jane, that he just knew he was her favorite son-in-law. Chuck and Debra met at Congregation Adat Ariel, and eventually joined Rabbi Moshe and his “bride” Martha Laurie on what would become an online talk show, “Truth In Life Today”. Chuck loved his girls, all his girls, his daughters Lorie, Sarah, and Julie, and his granddaughters...his sons-in-law too. When they would call or visit, he would exclaim, “There’s my girls!” The most wonderful thing about Chuck was he had Jesus in his heart, and he took such joy in sharing the things he learned about the Lord with almost everyone he met. His favorite question to ask to get the conversation going was, when did Jesus become a Christian? Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his wife of 7 years, Debra O’Neil Nelson, his daughters, Lorie(Chris)Dove, Sarah(Josh) White and Julie Nelson. Chuck had 3 beautiful granddaughters, Elliott Ryan White, Evelyn Joy White and Eleanor James Dove. He is also survived by his brothers, David (Chari)Nelson, Steven (Patricia) Nelson and Michael (Cynthia) Nelson. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Sellars Funeral Home, Lebanon TN, 615.444.9393.