Howard Raymond "Skip" Neilson II (77) passed away peacefully on August 9, 2019, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He grew up in Pleasant Ridge. Skip graduated from Detroit Country Day School in 1959. He attended Albion College where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, was the student manager of the track/field, football, and baseball teams and graduated in 1963. He earned his Master's degree in computer science from Wayne State University in 1965. In the same year, he began a 30 year career with Ford Motor Company in Dearborn and Detroit in computer science and information technology, retiring in 1995. Skip is survived by his brothers David Neilson (Karen) and Jeffrey Neilson (Judge Lisa Neilson), nieces/nephews Lisa Casciaro (Richard), Christy Kauffman (Matthew), Bradley Neilson, Dr. Elizabeth Neilson (Dr. Daniel Maitland) Mary Katherine Neilson and Merritt Scott Collins (Vaughan Scott). Skip loved competition, athletics, umpiring, coaching, and particularly the"strategic defensive" philosophy in everything from baseball to scrabble. He began his coaching with youth baseball in the 50s, accumulating many championships in the Ferndale youth leagues. His umpiring began in college, working high school games. While working at Ford Motor he was enticed to join the expanding Ford Slo-pitch Softball League and in the early 70s joined the Adray Softball Club; coaching them to six USSSA World championships (1975, 1976, 1988, 1989, 1991, and 1993). Skip was inducted in to the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. He was an avid fan of Detroit Country Day, University of Michigan, Albion College, Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red WIngs. Skip was widely regarded for his sports knowledge and insights and will be fondly remembered by so many who interacted with him in his athletic and competitive endeavors. Skip loved this country and took great pride in the role his family has played in its history. He was a Mayflower descendant. His great, great, great, great grandfather Captain John Neilson fought in the Battle of Saratoga, the turning point of the Revolutionary War in New York in 1777; where the Neilson home served as headquarters for Generals Poor, Morgan, and Arnold and still stands on the battlefield in the Saratoga National Historic Park. A cousin, Major Courtney Neilson, is buried in the Omaha Beach Cemetery in France where he died on Day 1 of the Normandy Invasion in the village of Saint-Mere-Eglise. His nephew, Bradley Neilson, who lives in Northville, Michigan, served his country in the US Army "Old Guard" stationed at Arlington National Cemetery. Skip was a humble soul, with great wit and humor who overcame immense physical challenges each day of his life. He loved God, his country, his family and his friends; a life well lived. Skips family will receive friends from 3-8 pm on Tuesday, August 13 and from 3-8 pm with prayer service at 7 pm on Wednesday, August 14 at A.J. Desmond and Sons Price Chapel, 3725 Rochester Rd., Troy (between Big Beaver and Wattles). A Funeral Service will be held at 11 am on Thursday, August 15 at First United Methodist Church, 1589 W. Maple Rd, Birmingham, MI 48009. Visitation at church begins at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial tributes to Detroit Country Day School, Dept. of Athletics, 22305 W. 13 Mile Rd, Beverly Hills, MI 48025. Funeral Home: A.J. Desmond & Sons - Price Chapel 3725 Rochester Road Troy, MI US 48083