Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Nelson, Henry Tibbits 2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net July 25, 2013, 2:38 pm The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, May, 2008 It is with joy that we celebrate Henry T. Nelson's life of love and service to God, his family, our country and to the Ionia community. An outstanding fruit farmer, his experience in orchard management was invaluable to the agriculture advisory and marketing committees on which he served over the years. He was a highly respected member of his community and provided important leadership in the area of urban and rural planning. He moved to Ionia in 1952, purchasing an orchard on Parmeter Road and later the Nelson's Welcome Orchard on North M66. The farm market, a source for apples, homemade doughnuts, the best cider and bakery goods served people from all over Western Michigan. Henry was an active member of many statewide agricultural and horticultural groups including Michigan State Horticultural Society, Michigan State Board of Pomesters, MSU Agricultural Extension Service, and in 1971 Michigan State University presented him with the Distinguished Service Award for Agriculture. He proudly served his country during World War II, reaching the rank of Lt. Colonel in the United States Army. At Fort Riley, Kan., he performed in the Ceremonial Horse Cavalry and was also an officer in the school of motor pool maintenance. While stationed there, he met his wife Marian, an army nurse. He was enthusiastically involved in the City of Ionia, participating on many local boards and committees such as the Ionia Hospital Board, Federal Land Bank Board, Ionia Rotary, Ionia Zoning Commission and Michigan Farm Bureau. For 52 years, he and his wife were active members of the Ionia United Methodist Church, where both enjoyed singing in the choir and participating in church activities. For several years while his children were involved in the church Sunday School, he served as Sunday school superintendent. One of the ways he stayed young at heart and reached the fine age of 96 was by swimming at the Ionia High School Pool. To celebrate his ninetieth year, friends and family cheered him on as he swam 90 lengths of the Ionia YMCA pool. Amazing! A man of character, many will remember him for his kind and gracious demeanor. He lived his life by following the tenants of the verse from Micah 6:8 - He has showed you, O Man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Henry Tibbits Nelson was born on Christmas Day, 1911 in Farmington, MI. He received his BS degree in Horticulture from Michigan State School of Agriculture. Although his major scope of expertise was in the field of agriculture, he sustained an extraordinary curiosity: developing skills in all areas of knowledge, in physical development, in social accomplishments and in the arts. His wife Marian who died on March 27 of this year preceded him in death. They had celebrated their sixty sixth wedding anniversary on Feb. 15. His three children Binnie Lou Zoerner, Susan Nelson Petrella and Henry Karl Nelson lovingly remember him. Their Gramps will always be adored by his 7 grandchildren, Adam Richard Nelson, Jeffrey Karl (Sherry) Nelson and Laura Christine Nelson, Brian Nelson Elsasser, Binnie Sue (Bill) Chrysler, Michele Lynn (Troy) VanBemmelen, Jennifer Pearl (Gary) Rochford and 5 great- grandchildren. We were all blessed. Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Monday June 9 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Larry Brown officiating. The family will receive friends and relatives 9:30-11 a.m. prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers you may make memorial contributions to First United Methodist Church or Commission on Aging. Funeral arrangements by Lake Funeral Home in Ionia. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/n/nelson21898nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb