Lester Robert Nelson

Lester Robert Nelson, aged 79, passed away on December 16, 2024, surrounded by the love of his family, leaving behind a legacy of ingenuity, extraordinary strength, and unwavering devotion. From his humble beginnings on a dairy farm—where, as he often said, he “didn’t have two nickels to rub together”—Lester became a shining example of how hard work and determination can shape a remarkable life.

In his 20s, Lester moved to Belvidere, IL, where he worked for 32 years as a talented millwright at the Chrysler Belvidere Assembly Plant. His brilliant mind and inventive spirit led to groundbreaking achievements, including 2 patents for his conveyor reset and turntable rack exchange devices, which revolutionized logistics and assembly line repairs by reducing downtime from hours to just minutes. These innovations were so profound that it earned him recognition from automotive icon Lee Iacocca as his ideas were shared with every other Chrysler plant around the world. Beyond work, Lester’s mechanical genius shone through in his garage, where countless homemade tools and inventions aided his numerous projects.

Over the course of his life, Lester built three homes, each more impressive than the last. At the age of 55, he retired early, having achieved what many only dream of: building a remarkable three-bedroom, fourth-bath home on a beautiful 120-acre farm in Orfordville, WI. He was a shining example of what determination, hard work, and resourcefulness can achieve. Lester recalls his mother’s concerns of starting his retirement in massive debt, to which he was able to reassure her that he wasn’t going into any debt to pay for his dream retirement home—a proud moment for a man whose roots were so modest.

Lester’s greatest joys often came outdoors, especially on his many fishing trips to Pakashkan Lake in Ontario, Canada. Over three decades, he made nearly 100 journeys to this beloved place, creating memories at special spots from Bobby’s Bay to Lester’s Locker. Some of his happiest days were spent there with his son Troy and grandson Brandon, proudly sharing the experience across three generations. His love for the outdoors extended to countless four-wheeler adventures with his grandchildren providing them with memories they will cherish forever.

Yet, Lester’s most enduring legacy is the man he embodied: a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was an adept conversationalist, able to speak to anyone, anywhere, about anything with wit, humor, and a deep well of knowledge. He instilled in his family invaluable life lessons about hard work, resourcefulness, perseverance, and the importance of cherishing every moment—values that undoubtedly made profound impacts on all who learned from them. Whether explaining the complex intricacies of a refrigerator or arm-wrestling anyone brave enough to take him on, Lester’s strength—of body, mind, and spirit—was unmatched.

His 24 years of retirement were filled with joy, fishing, golfing, and time spent with his family, whom he loved fiercely. On one of his final fishing trips to Canada, Lester reflected on his life with profound gratitude, saying, “I don’t want you to be sad when I die… because I’ve lived one hell of a life.”

Lester Robert Nelson was a man of integrity, humor, and brilliance—a true pillar of his community and family. Though he is no longer with us, his spirit, wisdom, and love will live on in the hearts of those fortunate enough to have known him. 

May we honor Lester not with sadness, but by celebrating the incredible life he lived—a life of achievements, adventure, and love—and by living each day ourselves with the same strength, purpose, and zest for life that he so beautifully embodied.

He is deeply missed and survived by his devoted wife of 59 unforgettable years, Nancey Nelson, daughter, Lashell (Randy) Davis; grandchildren, Ashley (Robert) Miller, Brandon (Kayla) Davis; great-grandchildren, Bobby Miller, Melody Miller, Ella Davis; brothers, Duane Nelson, Stanley (Sandi) Nelson, Melvin (Kathy) Nelson; sister-in-law, Lois. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Elsie (Anderson) Nelson; son, Troy Nelson; brother, Donovan Nelson. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.belviderefh.com.