(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)
Forrest Rudolph Nelson, age 98 of Riverton, Kansas, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at Freeman Hospital. Forrest was born September 5, 1922 in Chanute, Kansas, the fourth of eight children born to Oscar Daniel Nelson and Eunice Gray Nelson. His grandparents immigrated from Sweden to an area just North of Chanute known as Swede Center.
Growing up in Chanute, at a young age he helped at his grandparents' farm near Swede Center and helped his father tend the family garden just outside Chanute. His parents provided for their family during the depression, with his mother making all the clothes for them, canning and preparing the produce for their meals.
During that time, he and his older brothers helped his father dig a basement under their home there in Chanute so they could store coal for the coal burning furnace, which father later converted to natural gas. Besides the chores and helping on the farm, at the age of twelve he had a newspaper route for the local newspaper and later played saxophone in a local jazz band.
At the age of 20, he was working for a clothing store in Chanute. He had just finished his junior college education and by that time two of his older brothers, Louis, and Ellis, had been called to war. Forrest enlisted in the Army on November 16, 1942 after he received his draft notice, and a younger brother (Allan) was drafted after him. He first moved to Leavenworth, Kansas and then transferred to the Desert Center, the Sixth Armored Division (Super Six).
Forrest was trained in California where he helped in moving supplies to the combat front, trained as a radio operator and a carbine sharpshooter, he spent most of his time as a corporal. Before he shipped out, he was reassigned as an Assistant to the Chaplain. In February of 1944 they shipped out and landed in Bristol where they took trains to Morton‐on‐Marsh. In June they readied for their part of the invasion with the artillery, tanks, and infantry, where they moved out into the North Sea for two weeks as they waited for the landing to move in 12 miles to make room for the three armored divisions.
During his service, he received stars representing his various battles and campaigns, which included Normandy, Northern France, The Rhineland, and Central Europe.
On August 5, 1944, Forrest was driving a jeep, with the Chaplain beside him and another fellow soldier riding with them when a company of German Paratroopers opened fire, killing the Chaplain. He was captured and held prisoner by German soldiers in France, where he was held for over two months. In Kansas, his parents received a Western Union Telegram delivered by the local Red Cross on August 30th, that their son was missing in action in France.
"The first five days were the most dangerous," he said. "None of our platoon knew we were captured. We were considered missing in action." The prisoners were moved around frequently, due to air raids. They were fed one meal per day, which was not particularly good. It was usually stew, soup, or something else not too substantial.
He was repatriated by American troops in Brest, France, on October 16, 1944, and was sent to a hospital in England where he was treated for weight loss, gastrointestinal ailments along with other minor conditions for several months. He was honorably discharged on October 26, 1945.
After the war, he returned to the retail trade and worked in and managed several Litwin Department Stores. It was during that period of his life as relief manager for Litwin’s, that he came to Parsons, Kansas in 1947 where he met his future wife, Naomi “June” Loughmiller. June was working as a salesclerk for Litwin’s. They started dating and continued dating until they were married in the home of her parents on July 1, 1951. He later finished his education at the University of Kansas and Pittsburg State University, where he earned Bachelor of Science Degree in teaching, graduating in 1951.
He found his first teaching job in 1952 at Riverton High School, where they built their first home in Riverton. After leaving Riverton he taught for five years in Great Bend, Kansas. Returning to Riverton in 1961 to that same home they built, it became their lifelong home.
Forrest continued his teaching career with the Joplin School System for the next thirty years. He taught American Government, World History, and debate over those 39 years. He said what kept him in teaching, was the twenty years he served as the student council adviser and he enjoyed every minute of it, having worked several years with the Missouri Student Council Association.
He once said to a reporter that the students taught him one important lesson: "That everyone has a place, and my place is with them." It was where he belonged, teaching. At the time, he said, "The thing I will miss most about teaching will be seeing the students every day, but I think I've done my work. Now I just want to travel when I want to and sit down when I want to."
Besides his teaching career, to support a family of seven, over the years he worked as an Assistant Manager at the J.C Penney's in Great Bend, sold Compton’s Encyclopedias, sold and delivered Fuller Brush merchandise, and in 1962, with June’s desire to create her own greeting cards, with some prompting, she convinced Forrest to acquire their first offset printing press. Thus, was the beginning of Nelson Printing. June was the driving force behind that family business during the daytime while he worked all day teaching. He would devote his time to the print shop in the evenings.
Upon his retirement from teaching and things slowing down in the printing business, it was not unusual to see him working every day at his son Scott’s store, The Old Riverton Store. He took his time, he moved a little slower, but he has always enjoyed the retail trade, getting to visit with the local patrons, talking about what is going on in the world, and striking a chord with the many Route 66 travelers. He was not afraid to share his background or life history with the patrons and visitors coming to the store.
Whether they are from England, Sweden, Norway or anywhere in the European area, he has a story or connection with their part of the world. It was that Swedish Heritage that seemed to drive his work ethic, and if that was not enough, he was a charter member of the Keenagers, and sang in all the choirs over the years directed by his son Scott, at Bethel Community Church, Spring River Assembly of God Choir, First Baptist Church Chancellor Choir and the Labette Community College Community Choir in Parsons, Kansas.
Forrest and June had been married 64 years when she passed away on November 4, 2015. Raising five children is what he considers his greatest accomplishment. He is survived by David F. Nelson (Barbara); Sara Davis (Jeff); Scott H. Nelson, of Riverton; Steven Nelson (Pam), Tulsa, OK; Jennifer Schenker (Kent), Oswego, KS. Grandchildren are Dr. Benjamin Davis (Nicolette); Bethany Davis Nelson (Kevin); Anthony Nelson; Ryan Schenker (Katelyn); Travis and Rachel Schenker, and Alex Nelson. Great grandchildren, Hannah June Nelson, and Rylee Bee Schenker.
Forrest was preceded in death by his parents. His three‐year‐old sister Helen Louise Nelson; sisters, Ruth Elliott, Marion Geeding, Martha Moody, and his brothers Louis, Ellis, and Allan.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Thornhill‐Dillon Mortuary, 602 S Byers Ave. in Joplin. Funeral Services will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at Parker Mortuary, 1502 S Joplin Ave. He will be laid to rest in Hillcrest Cemetery in Galena, Kansas with Military Honors. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, MO.
In lieu of flowers – Donations may be made to: Pittsburg State University Foundation, Inc. For the Friends of the Veterans Memorial Fund P.O. Box 4005 Pittsburg, KS 66762‐9910.
Those in attendance for visitation and funeral services will be required to wear a mask and social distancing is requested.
If you're unable to attend services, please join us on Monday via Zoom:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77490921075?pwd=S25idGo1dDRYdkNWa2JQQWEvdXJrZz09
Meeting ID: 774 9092 1075
Passcode: Nelson
