William Nelson

William Fred “Willie” Nelson, of Chicago IL passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve at the age of 83 with his longtime partner Joanne Mineo at his side. Willie was born on June 10, 1942 in Pittsburgh, PA to Ruth and Tom Nelson, the second of their four children. He maintained close relationships with his parents and siblings throughout their lives. In May 1960, like his father and brother, Willie enlisted in the United States Navy where he served with honor as an Electronics Technician until May 1966. Over the ensuring years he held many different jobs from photographer at a large advertising firm in Chicago to bartender at The Nightcap. In the years before retirement, he worked as a driver for a funeral home. His quiet, gentle demeanor was well suited to assisting the bereaved. His presence now would be a great comfort. Willie met Joanne in the early 1980s. Their memorable first date at Chez Paul, where literally everybody working in the restaurant knew Willie, ultimately led the happy couple to formalize their commitment to one another by purchasing a home together on the “coveted middle block of the middle street” of Edgewater Glen. Over the past 40 years they formed deep friendships with many of their neighbors. Some will remember Willie for having any tool or piece of hardware they could possibly need for a home repair and for his willingness to help them make the repair. Of course, this exposed them to his somewhat annoying habit of encouraging them to do some part of the job themselves so they would learn and feel more comfortable doing the work themselves in the future. He will also be remembered for his food — his deviled eggs, his low and slow cooked baby back ribs with his South Carolina-style barbecue sauce, and his key lime pies. A review of Willie’s life would be incomplete without mention of his lifelong passion for motorcycling, his sweet golf swing, and his love for his home-away-from home, Destin Florida, where he and Joanne enjoyed countless Gulf-front vacations including several recent winter escapes. Willie was intelligent, kind and funny, an avid reader and lover of puzzles. He was a storyteller, a World War II history buff and a teacher at heart; a person prone to oft-repeated favorite phrases and expressions. There are currently no less than three separate lists of “Willie-isms” being compiled by various friends and family members. He would find this endeavor performed in his memory to be “entirely adequate.” Willie’s passing leaves a deep hole that can’t be filled. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his devoted partner Joanne, his much-loved brother Tom (Elaine) Nelson, his nieces Laura (Dave) Ritchey and Jennifer LaCompte, and his nephew, Timothy Nelson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Ellen Williamson and Barbara (Earl) Triebes and his nephew Christopher Triebes. Willie will be laid to rest at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL with full military honors on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Fisher House Foundation www.fisherhouse.org or the Greater Chicago Food Depository www.chicagofoodbank.org

William Nelson

June 10, 1942 - December 24, 2025

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William Nelson

June 10, 1942 - December 24, 2025

365 Days of Grief Support

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