Edward D. Nelsen had a very interesting and full life.  Beloved Husband, Father, Father-in-law, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather, Standing at 6’5 he was a gentle giant who had a positive outlook on life and loved to tell stories and laugh. “Call me Ed”, he would always say and everyone he met loved him.  Ed was a die-hard Detroit Lions fan and a huge Michigan State Fan; he especially loved watching the MSU basketball team.

As a child, Ed grew up working summers on his Grandfathers farm in Mission Point, Michigan and loved every minute of it.  He would tell stories of growing up on the farm, milking the cows, collecting eggs from the chickens and helping his Grandfather work the farm.

After high school in November of 1943 he joined the Navy as a seaman and received certification at the Advanced Torpedo School, U.S. Naval Torpedo Station in Keyport Washington.  Ed served as a Torpedo man aboard PT Boat 588 during WWII in the Philippines until honorably discharged in June of 1946. 

After the war, Ed married the love of his life, Doris “Doree” Gorman and the two of them moved to Lansing Michigan where he worked as Senior Advanced Designer for Oldsmobile Division of General Motors Corp. one of the projects he succeeded in designing was a chassis that was large enough to house a front wheel drive V8 engine for the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado.  Ed retired after working 30 years for GM in1982. After retiring Ed also did some consulting for a few years at the GM Tech Center in Detroit.

Ed and Doree had a wonderful life together; together they had two children, Eric and Nancy. In 1966 they purchased a brand new 32’ yacht in New Jersey.  Ed along with family and friends brought the boat back to Holland Michigan, it was the first vessel to pass through the Lockport locks of the State Barge Canal.  Ed and his family enjoyed boating for over 10 years along the shores of Michigan.  Doree passed in December of 1982.

A few years later he moved to Eaton Rapids, Michigan and there he befriended so many people and found quite a few lifetime friends.  Ed met his long-time companion Joanne and together worked very hard restoring Joanne’s farmhouse. Today the property is one of the most beautiful in the city. 

While living in Eaton Rapids, Ed discovered woodcarving and became an expert in carving the most beautiful feathered decoys, Santa’s, shore birds and an assortment of beautiful and unusual carvings, Ed could carve just about anything!   He became so good at creating and carving his Santa’s that there was a list of people that couldn’t wait for the next one and he would work all year long to make sure everyone on his list received one!
 
Ed enjoyed spending time with his Son Eric and daughter-in-law Robin at their home in the Monterey Bay area of California.  He excelled at spoiling their three dogs and enjoyed the fabulous views and diverse marine life including many shore birds of the Pacific shoreline.  

In 2014, Ed moved to Florida and lived with his Daughter Nancy and her companion Steve.  Ed enjoyed spending time with his Florida family; Granddaughters’, Erica Stewart and Jamie Myers, Erica’s husband George and Ed’s grandson Nathan who called him “Big Grandpa”!   Steve’s family adopted Ed and he had many enjoyable family gatherings with his extended family as well.  About a year and a half later Ed moved to Spruce Creek Assisted Living Home in Port Orange, Florida.  He loved living at Spruce Creek and adored the staff.  

Edward Duane Nelsen died peacefully under Hospice care at Spruce Creek ALF.