Jerome George Nelson

Jerome George Nelson was born Dec. 17, 1932 in Newman Grove, Nebraska, the second of five sons of John and Mary (Griel) Nelson. He died Sept. 14, 2015 at Montclair Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Omaha at the age of 82. Jerome grew up in the Venice/Waterloo area and attended a one-room school in Venice. His father died when Jerome was young, and not long after he went to work for the State of Nebraska as a drag line crane operator to help provide for the family. The construction industry became his lifelong career, and throughout the years he either worked as a union heavy equipment operator for various contractors in the Omaha area or he owned and operated his own construction businesses. He worked all over the state erecting bridges, laying natural gas pipeline or installing water lines and storm and sanitary sewer mains. He was known throughout the construction industry as a hard worker who did what it took to get the job done right and on time. He also trained many operators still working in the industry today, including his sons. In addition to owning construction companies, Jerome also owned the Chief Bar in Yutan for several years and had rental properties in Omaha and Yutan, including the Pine Tree Apartments in Yutan. He was known as a kind and generous landlord. If he knew one of his renters was down on their luck, he would give them a free month’s rent at Christmas time so they could buy presents for their family. Jerome’s generosity was also evident every winter, when he would drive around Yutan in his white Chevy pickup plowing snow off of driveways and alleys for family, friends, elderly church members and pretty much anyone who needed it. Jerome had many interests other than work. He loved camping with his family and soon after they would set up camp he would be off making new friends with the neighboring campers. Jerome also loved to fly. He was a pilot for over 30 years, although he did not have a pilot’s license until the final few years that he owned a plane. When asked why he didn’t have a license until then, he said, “No one ever asked me if I had one.” He owned two planes – a J3 Piper Club canvas plane and a Piper Cherokee 150. He loved to take family and friends out for a flight and could be seen buzzing over the home of someone he knew or engaging in a few stunts, including power stalls with downward spiral spins, which always concluded with the statement, “Don’t tell Mom.” After he stopped flying, Jerome kept busy with another hobby – classic cars, which were a passion of his throughout his life. He restored a 1968 Ford Mustang and in his later years owned a 1964 Ford Thunderbird and a 1973 Ford Cougar XR7 convertible. These two cars were his pride and joy, and he enjoyed spending time each day polishing them in his shop. He also loved driving them in parades and participating in car shows, where he was awarded many trophies. Another passion of Jerome’s was his love for his two little poodles, Jack and Jill, who went with him everywhere he traveled and enjoyed a daily sausage from Jeris’ Café after breakfast. These dogs were the center of his life, and they helped him cope as his memory loss progressed through the past year. Jack preceded him in death a few months ago, which was a sad day for Jerome, but Jill’s kisses helped heal his pain. Jerome spent 12 years serving the people of Yutan as an elected official. He started out on the Village Board and later was a City Council member after Yutan had grown enough to be designated a city. He took his role as a representative for the citizens of Yutan very seriously, spending countless hours overseeing the affairs of the city. He was raised as a Mason in 1967 in the John C. Mercer Lodge in Omaha. In the 1970s, he was unable to be an active Mason because the economic conditions at the time created challenges as a business owner and the Masons’ creed is that family always comes first, so he concentrated on his family and business. Last year, however, two of his sons who are Masons, Mark and Terry, contacted the lodge to reinstate him as a third degree mason. He was reinstated by his fellow brothers of the lodge and shortly after that he became a member of the Tangier Shrine, alongside sons Mark, Terry, Randy and grandson Chad. This fulfilled a lifelong dream that began decades ago when his employees gave him a Shriner’s ring, which he would not wear it because he felt he had not earned the honor because he was not a Shriner. Today he wears his Shriner’s ring for the first and last time. He also gave back to the community as a member of the Yutan Volunteer Fire Department and the Hollst Lawn Cemetery board. He was a member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Yutan and was very active in the church and supported the church and the congregation in any way he could. Jerome married Catherene Faye McKeighan on May 15, 1954 in Yutan. The couple was blessed with five sons – Rich, Terry, Randy, Mark and Wendell. Because of his work, the family moved several times when the children were young before they settled in Omaha. In the 1970s, they moved to Yutan, which became their permanent home. Family was the most important thing in Jerome’s life. He was very close to all four of his brothers, who gathered regularly for reunions at various locations throughout the country in their retirement years. Jerome was proud of his large family of sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed their family gatherings, which were always loud and full of laughter. Jerome’s legacy lives on in his family. Along with his wife, Catherene, of Yutan, he is survived by sons and daughters-in-law Rich and Susanne of Waterloo, Terry and Lynnette of Yutan, Randy and Denise of Omaha, Mark and Suzi of Yutan and Wendell and Lisa of Yutan; grandchildren and spouses, Tina MacMillan, Annie and Jay Miller, Andrew Nelson, Shawn and Christine Nelson, Chad and Theresa Nelson, Shannon and Tony Towles, Amber Nelson, Adam Nelson, Ashley and Tucker Beglin, Allison Nelson, Whitney Nelson, Cheyenne Nelson, Bradly Nelson, Kyle Nelson and Jacob Nelson; great-grandchildren, Samantha MacMillan, Lilly Miller, Silas Miller, Ezra Nelson, Cody Nelson, Sierra Nelson, Trinity Vuxta, Titus Towles, Dallas Nelson, Randall Nelson, Archer Beglin and Avery Beglin; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jewell and Sue Nelson of Lake Havasu City, Arizona and Virgil and Leona Nelson of Omaha; sisters-in-law, Lynda Nelson of Omaha and Marjorie Nelson of Elk Grove, California; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Betty and LeRoy Drews of Ashland, Chuck and Helen McKeighan of Omaha, Mag Stanisec of Omaha, Mary McKeighan of Omaha; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepfather, Vern Smith; brothers Glen Nelson and Marvin Nelson; grandson Dallas Bradley Nelson; brothers-in-law Donald Stanisec and Jerry McKeighan. Though he is no longer with us, Jerome’s impact on our lives will last forever. Our days are a little less bright without him, but our lives are richer for him. Jerome G. Nelson, age 82, of Yutan, NE, died 9-14-15. Preceded in death by grandson Dallas, brothers Marvin and Glen Nelson. Survived by wife Catherene, sons and daughters-in-law: Richard & Susan, Terry & Lynnette, Randy & Denise, Mark & Suzanne, Wendell & Lisa, 15 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law; Jewel & Sue, and Virgil & Leona Nelson, and sisters-in-law; Marjorie Nelson and Lynda Nelson. Funeral service 10 AM Saturday at the funeral home in Yutan. Visitation from Noon to 7:30 PM Friday at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 5-7:30 and a Masonic Service at 7:30. Interment Hollst Lawn Cemetery. Memorials to St. Peter’s Church, Alzheimer’s Association, or the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Jerome George Nelson

December 17, 1932 - September 14, 2015