Gerald Ford Nelson, 83, of Spread Eagle, Wisc., passed away Sunday, June 11, 2023 at his home.

Gerald was born February 10, 1940, in Rockford, Ill., son of the late Ford and June (Loy) Nelson.

Gerald graduated from high school in Winnebago, Ill in 1958 and then joined the Air Force where he served four years. He moved to Fort Worth, Tex,. where he went to work for General Dynamics building F1 11 B airplanes. His next job was working for the 301st Tactical Fighters Wing, at Naval Air Station Fort Worth joint reserve base, Carswell Field, in Fort Worth Tex. In May of 1969 Gerald met the love of his life, Darla Poss, at one of the local bowling alleys. The two hit it off and six months later they were married on November 28th. In 2001 he moved to Spread Eagle, Wisc. where he worked for the Florence County school district and then the Kingsford, school district driving school bus. He later retired in 2016

Gerald enjoyed taking care of his 1941 Chris Craft boat, bowling, vacationing in his RV, and gardening. He loved gardening so much he transported 100 types of Irises with him when he moved to Spread Eagle. We worked for several years helping to restore the WWII Glider for the Military Museum in Iron Mountain Mich.

Survivors include his four sons, Daniel Nelson, Gerald (Robin Andrez) Nelson, Glen (Teresa) Nelson, Chance Borden-Nelson; one brother, Curtiss (Denise) Nelson; five grandchildren, Dawn Powers (Keleigh), David (Brandi) Nelson, Hunter Nelson, Dmitri Nelson, Perry Nelson; six great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Darla Nelson; two sisters, Sharlynn Seipts, and Anita McClain.

Visitation will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., with a Funeral Service starting at 9:30 a.m., on Friday June 23, 2023, at Greenwood Funeral Home chapel, Fort Worth, Tex.

The family has chosen the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Florence, Wisc., to honor Gerald’s legacy of life.