Robert John Nelson, better known as “Nellie” to most, passed away at the age of 75 on Sunday, June 8, 2025, a week after suffering a massive stroke. Despite his stroke, we truly believe he died of a broken heart, after losing the love of his life fourteen months and one day earlier. He passed after a heartfelt visitation by his family.
Nellie had a wide range of careers during his lifetime – Associate Executive Director at the YMCA, Co-Owner of Nelson Sign and Graphics (and formerly Lakeshore Screen Printing) with his wife, Owner of his beloved Fat Seagull, and, most recently, a realtor for Coldwell Banker where he was named the Realtor of the Year in 2018. While his jobs were diverse, they all had one thing in common – people. See, first and foremost, our Dad was a people person, he loved being around and helping people.
Nellie’s desire to help others shined brightest in his charitable endeavors which spanned his entire life dating back to his organization of and participation in the annual “Half-Beard Game” at the YMCA, 15 years of Festa Italiano benefiting Holy Family Memorial’s Cancer Center’s wall aquarium with his wife and friends, 18 years of the Linda Dworak Memorial Golf Outing (along with his family and the Dworak family) benefiting local families impacted by cancer, the Fat Seagull Chili Bowl benefiting the United Way, and so many others. During his lifetime, he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities and individuals and, no doubt, positively impacted thousands of lives in the process.
His love of people extended to the lakeshore sports community. Bob was one of the founders of the tennis program at the Manitowoc-Two Rivers YMCA. He coached the Roncalli High School Boys Varsity Tennis Team for 37 years, having many successful seasons but, more importantly, having positively impacted the lives of so many young men who, until the day he died, still lovingly called him “Coach.” He parlayed his knowledge and love of tennis into a favorite pastime with Bob Feller, one of his best friends for over 40 years, developing and running the “Nelson-Feller Tennis Camps” at Lakeland College. They taught hundreds of young people the game they both loved but NFTC taught much more than just tennis – they taught respect, sportsmanship, character, kindness, integrity and more. Nellie taught so many to “win with class, lose with dignity” – a lesson that so many he encountered carry to this day. While he was never one for personal recognition, he was inducted into the Lakeshore Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Wisconsin High School Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2019.
In all that he was able to do for other people, our father always made his family his number one priority. His love and commitment to our mother was inspirational, to say the least, remaining ardently by her side through her lengthy and multiple battles with cancer. He loved us and his Granddaughters unconditionally, spending so much quality time with us over the years that it would take a novel to detail.
Nellie is survived by his loving Daughter, Heather Nelson (Manitowoc); Son and best friend, Trent, treasured Daughter-in-Law, Amy, and beloved Granddaughters Emilia and Ayla Nelson (Manitowoc); his cherished yellow lab, Jager (Jay-ger); Mother, Eleanor; brother, Ken; sister, Barb Sundust; nephews, Travis (Sarah), Nate (Nichole), Mikhail (Michael) (Charissa (Karissa)) and Noah and their families; dear friends Mike Retzinger, Bob Feller, Tom Fritzke and Doug Schmidt, his “Dice and Fat Seagull crew” – Jerry, Keith, Mike, Karl, Keith and Rachel, Scott, the bartenders, fellow patrons; and countless others.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Pat Nelson; father, Emil Nelson; sister, Jean Nelson; sister-in-law, Sharon Nelson and brother-in-law, Mike Sundust.
Cremation has occurred at the Harrigan Parkside Crematory, Manitowoc, and a memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home, 628 N. Water Street, Manitowoc. Officiating at the service will be the Rev. Matt Colle. Bob will be laid to rest at Calvary Catholic Mausoleum with his loving wife at a later date. A visitation will be held for family and friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:30 p.m. at Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home on Thursday, June 19, 2025. A life celebration will follow the service at The Fat Seagull, 807 Quay Street, Manitowoc, starting at 2:00 p.m.
We are forever grateful for Dr. Mark Riedy and the nursing staff at Green Bay Baycare’s ICU and the nurses who cared for him while he remained in hospice there. We are not sure where we would be without Dr. Riedy’s guidance, care, compassion and commitment to ensuring Dad’s wishes were honored. Thank you also to our friends and family who have gone above and beyond to help us during this time, it means more to us than we can put into words.
There are so many different ways to describe our Dad, many of which we have heard from those who have commented on the news of his passing – a Manitowoc institution, an absolute legend, a friend and a coach to many, a good friend to many and loved by more, an All-Timer, a Manitowoc great leaving a legacy, one in a million, a special guy and a great friend, a community fixture who has left his mark, a great man with a quick smile, so kind and so good, and truly one of the best – but, to us, he was, simply, Dad and Papa. We were so blessed to have him as our Dad and Papa and we will miss him every day, but we know that he and Mom will be watching over us as we navigate this life without them here. We love you Dad.
