Clifford Nelson, 86, Pillager

February 20, 1928 - December 22, 2014

Clifford Nelson, 86, of Pillager, passed away Monday, December 22, 2014 at Essentia Health – St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, December 27, 2014 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd with Father Tony Wroblewski officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church beginning at noon. Interment will take place at a later date at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley.

Clifford John Benjamin Nelson was born February 20, 1928 in Daggett Brook Township, the son of Erik and Anna (Olson) Nelson. After high school, Cliff enlisted in the US Army and served his country during WWII. When he was honorably discharged, he continued his education at Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. He worked as an electrician for many years at Holden, and then Collins Electric. For 63 years he was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers (IBEW # 242). On July 3, 1951, he married RoseMarie Ebertowski at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Harding, MN. The couple made their home in the Pillager Area and were blessed with three children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Cliff enjoyed retirement. He stayed active restoring old cars and was a member of the Antique Car Club in Brainerd. He also spent many hours turning the old milk house into a cabin – one he hoped would give him the opportunity to shoot a deer off the front porch. He liked to hunt and fish. He also enjoyed woodworking and riding around in his golf cart. Cliff cherished time with his family – especially the grandchildren. He was a member of the American Legion, Post #255 and the Last Man’s Club.

He is survived by his wife, RoseMarie; children, Linda Ward, of Pillager, Glenn (Jeanne) Nelson, of Duluth, and Gayle Nelson, of Brainerd; grandchildren, Jackie, Jessie, Nelson, Dillon (Kayla), Cody (Brittany), Corey, Ben, Nikolas, and Nathan; and great-grandchildren, Will, Ara, Kennadi, and Hank. He was preceded in death by his parents and his nine siblings.