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Oscar Bernard Nelson

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Oscar Bernard Nelson

Birth	:	3 Apr 1921 Batavia, Jefferson County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	14 Jul 1968 Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.0138600, -91.9562100
Plot	:	4th.055
Description	:	Note: This memorial updated July 31, 2014 with parent links and fully transcribed obituary information, as well as photos of the signage at O.B. Nelson Park in Fairfield, Iowa. ------------ Fairfield Ledger Monday, July 15, 1968 Pgs. 1 & 5 Heart Attack Fatal To O.B. Nelson O.B. Nelson, head basketball coach and assistant professor of history at Parsons College, died suddenly Sunday after suffering a heart attack. Nelson, 47, was one of Iowa's most colorful sports figures. During 20 years at Parson's, he turned out five championship basketball teams and the college's first unbeaten football team. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Barhydt... Read More	Note: This memorial updated July 31, 2014 with parent links and fully transcribed obituary information, as well as photos of the signage at O.B. Nelson Park in Fairfield, Iowa. ------------ Fairfield Ledger Monday, July 15, 1968 Pgs. 1 & 5 Heart Attack Fatal To O.B. Nelson O.B. Nelson, head basketball coach and assistant professor of history at Parsons College, died suddenly Sunday after suffering a heart attack. Nelson, 47, was one of Iowa's most colorful sports figures. During 20 years at Parson's, he turned out five championship basketball teams and the college's first unbeaten football team. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in Barhydt Chapel with Dr. Jack R. Steele officiating. Military rites will be held in Evergreen Cemetery. The body will be taken from the Raymond Funeral Home to the Chapel at 8:30 a.m. Nelson was stricken Sunday about 4:30 a.m., at his home at 800 S. Main. After treatment at the Jefferson County Hospital, he was transferred to the Ottumwa Hospital where he died at 11:54 a.m. Nelson's humor and wit and his unconventional coaching methods made him a local legend. A star athlete at Parsons, Nelson won 10 varsity letters in three sports. He was named to the first All-Iowa Conference football team during his sophomore year in 1940. He received his BA degree at Parsons in 1946 and later earned his master's degree at the University of Iowa. Nelson began his coaching career at Grinnell High School in 1946. He came to Parsons in 1948, as head basketball coach and assistant football coach. He was named head football coach in 1949 and directed both sports for nine years. In 1957 the coaching staff was expanded and he retained the head basketball post. Nelson's basketball teams posted a record of 262 victories and 191 defeats. His 1950 and 1952 clubs placed first in the old Southern Division of the Iowa Conference. He also won full conference titles in 1956, 1961 and 1963. O.B.'s big year was 1955-56 when his teams won both the Iowa Conference football and basketball crowns - a feat which hadn't been accomplished in 30 years. His 1955 football club, with an 8-0 mark, was the first undefeated team in the school's history. Nelson's teams of 1960 and 1963 won Iowa NAIA titles and competed in the national NAIA tournament at Kansas City. His 1967 club was also selected for the Area III NCAA college division tournament. Nelson coached at Parsons longer than any other staff member. Seven of his cagers posted scoring marks of more than 1,000 points. Numerous others won all-conference recognition in both basketball and football. Nelso, whose given name was Oscar Bernard, was born April 3, 1921 at Batavia, the son of Carl E. and Margaret Redman Nelson (sic. a/k/a Charles Edward Nelson and Margaret Redmon Nelson). He was reared in Batavia, graduating from high school there in 1938. He was married to Eunice C. Fricke, Nov. 28, 1945. A veteran of World War II, Nelson served 38 months overseas with the Fifth Infantry Division. He participated in five major engagements, including the Normandy landing. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of first lieutenant. Nelson also served many years in the Iowa Army National Guard, retiring with the rank of colonel. He commanded several Guard units, including the local Service Company of the 133rd Infantry and the Second Medium Tank Battalion of the 113th Armor. He was a 1962 graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Nelson is survived by his widow and six children: Marilyn Nelson, Keokuk; Richard Nelson, a student at Kansas University; Sarah, Kathryn, Robert and Cynthia, all at home. The following sisters and brothers also survive: Mrs. Theodore Shimkus, Southboro, Mass.; Mrs. William Countryman, Albuquerque, N. M.' Cmdr. (ret) Eugene Nelson, Key West, Fla.; and Raymond Nelson, Salem, Mo. Nelson was honored as Fairfield's "Man of the Year" in 1950. He was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church, Elks Lodge and Veterans of Foreign Wars. ------------ Fairfield Ledger Tuesday, July 16, 1968 Pg. 1 For O.B. Nelson - Military Funeral Rites Twenty-one officers and men of the Iowa Army National Guard have been selected to take part in military rites for the late O.B. Nelson on Wednesday. Nelson, Parsons College coach and faculty member, died suddenly Sunday. A veteran member of the National Guard, he retired in 1965 with the rank of colonel. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Barhydt Chapel with Dr. Jack R. Steele officiating. Flying to Fairfield from Camp Ripley, Minn., to serve as pallbearers are Brig. Gen. Robert Gamrath, Fairfield; Brig. Gen. Fred Wooster, Oelwein; and Major Richard Geith, Ottumwa. Other pall-bearers will be Col. Carl Radosevich, Ottumwa, commanding officer of the 224th Engineer Battalion; Capt. Julius Van DeVoorde, CWO (ret.) Cyril Raymond and Master Sgt. Merle Miller, all of Fairfield. Two members of the 34th Army Band, Sgt. Charles Danielson and Sp. 5 Don Samuelson, will also fly from Camp Ripley to serve as buglers. The Band is in summer training there. A seven-man firing squad will be commanded by Master Sgt. Lester Bohnsack. Master Sgt. Loy McClellan will be in charge of a four-man color guard. Military arrangements are in charge of Lieut. Charles Hayes, CWO Lane Bush and CWO Edward Walsh, representing Col. Radosevich. Members of the Fairfield Veterans of Foreign Wars post and Auxiliary will beet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at post headquarters. They will attend services for Nelson, who was a past commander of the post. ------------ Note: Following the very unexpected death of Oscar Bernard Nelson the Fairfield community honored him for his athletic sportsmanship by renaming the athletic field on the south side of Fairfield "O.B. Nelson Park".

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Oscar Bernard Nelson's memorial?
Oscar Bernard Nelson's memorial is located at: Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA.
When did Oscar Bernard Nelson death?
Oscar Bernard Nelson death on 14 Jul 1968 in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Oscar Bernard Nelson's memorial?
Latitude: 41.0138600
Longitude: -91.9562100

Family Members:

Parent

Carl Edward Nelson

(1882 - 1965)

Margaret Redmon Nelson

(1884 - 1963)

Spouse

Eunice Claire Fricke Nelson

(1922 - 2000)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Evergreen Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0138600, -91.9562100

2. Old Fairfield Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0148000, -91.9598000

3. Memorial Lawn Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0068000, -91.9805000

4. Switzer Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0368996, -91.9096985

5. Bradshaw Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9766998, -91.9032974

6. Roth Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9589005, -91.9574966

7. Bethesda Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0019000, -91.8796000

8. Smith Family Cemetery
Libertyville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9972416, -92.0362857

9. Wheeler Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0797000, -91.9185500

10. Galliher Cemetery
Glasgow, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9666892, -91.8835038

11. Upper Richwoods Cemetery
Salina, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0602989, -91.8807983

12. Jefferson County Poor Farm Cemetery
Libertyville, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9416900, -91.9996200

13. Perlee Cemetery
Perlee, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0805750, -91.8993380

14. Pattison Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9444008, -91.9049988

15. Moorman Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0452995, -92.0622025

16. Wright Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9524000, -91.8728000

17. Antioch Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1002998, -91.9147034

18. Moyer Cemetery
Fairfield, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1046982, -91.9330978

19. Cumberland Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9248000, -91.9903000

20. Gregg Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0078011, -92.0811005

21. Salina Cemetery
Salina, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0419006, -91.8330994

22. McCleary Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9892006, -92.0805969

23. Brooks Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0635986, -92.0693970

24. Thompson Cemetery
Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 40.9155998, -91.9772034