Norfolk - Arlene Bernice Nelson, born in a wash house on the Nebraska prairie, south of Wilcox in Franklin County September 10, 1923, passed peacefully into eternal grace on February 11, 2017 at the age of 93 in Virginia Beach. She had been a resident of Norfolk for 69 years. Both her sons were by her side.
She was the only daughter of John Harms (1890-1938) and Engelina Harms (Reil) (1898-1926). Arlene was raised by her grandmothers and relatives during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowls of that time. She was a salutatorian graduate Hildreth High School, Hildreth, NE. Besides her parents she was preceded by her brother Clinton A. Harms (1919), her husband of 49 years, BMCS Richard J. Nelson Sr. USN (1923-1995), her son, Thomas Leif Nelson (1950-1973) and two step sisters, Ardella and Helen Leach.
Survivors include her brother, Robert Harms of Kearney, NE; step-sisters, Bernice Clark of Holdrege, NE, Elaine Worthing of Venango, NE; hers sons, Richard J. Nelson, Jr., (Marsue) of Suffolk, VA and John R. Nelson (Karen) of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren, Richard H. Nelson, Melissa N. Faris, both of Virginia Beach, Dawn N. Edquist of Newport News, VA, Eric T. Nelson and Jennifer A. Graham, both of Portsmouth, VA; great-grandchildren, Jordan N. Nelson of Virginia Beach, Hunter S. Graham, Kaiden J. Graham, Harper K. McDonald, all of Portsmouth and Rachel A. Edquist of Newport News. Arlene was a secretary most of her life. She started her work life working for the WPA, then as a tire rationing worker during WW 2, she eventually worked in Hanford, WA on the Manhattan Project (Atomic Bomb). Arlene then met her husband and migrated to the east coast and continued as a secretary after her three boys could take care of themselves. She then continued her work in the real estate, business machines and computer areas of business. Arlene was a Christian woman of strong belief and ensured her family of church attendance. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, in Norfolk, for 69 years. She was active in the church serving as recording secretary, alter guild group, women's league member various other committees. Arlene was a hands on mother and served as an advocate for her sons during their time at home. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much. She was schooled in hand writing analysis, was an accomplished painter, going up to the limits of her instructors and was a very meticulous and detailed note taker and record keeper. She was a very determined person and also a strong advocate for her neighborhood and was not afraid to speak her mind to officials. She mainly enjoyed working cross word puzzles and playing bingo and her mind was sharp until the last week. Arlene will be laid to rest surrounded by her family on the 71st anniversary of her wedding.
The funeral took place at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Dr. Chapel on Thursday, February 16, 2017. Viewing took place from 1:30-2:30 p.m. with services was family only. Flowers or contributions to a charity of choice will be fine. The family of Arlene thanks everyone who was her friend or supported her through the years.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Feb. 15, 2017
She was the only daughter of John Harms (1890-1938) and Engelina Harms (Reil) (1898-1926). Arlene was raised by her grandmothers and relatives during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowls of that time. She was a salutatorian graduate Hildreth High School, Hildreth, NE. Besides her parents she was preceded by her brother Clinton A. Harms (1919), her husband of 49 years, BMCS Richard J. Nelson Sr. USN (1923-1995), her son, Thomas Leif Nelson (1950-1973) and two step sisters, Ardella and Helen Leach.
Survivors include her brother, Robert Harms of Kearney, NE; step-sisters, Bernice Clark of Holdrege, NE, Elaine Worthing of Venango, NE; hers sons, Richard J. Nelson, Jr., (Marsue) of Suffolk, VA and John R. Nelson (Karen) of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren, Richard H. Nelson, Melissa N. Faris, both of Virginia Beach, Dawn N. Edquist of Newport News, VA, Eric T. Nelson and Jennifer A. Graham, both of Portsmouth, VA; great-grandchildren, Jordan N. Nelson of Virginia Beach, Hunter S. Graham, Kaiden J. Graham, Harper K. McDonald, all of Portsmouth and Rachel A. Edquist of Newport News. Arlene was a secretary most of her life. She started her work life working for the WPA, then as a tire rationing worker during WW 2, she eventually worked in Hanford, WA on the Manhattan Project (Atomic Bomb). Arlene then met her husband and migrated to the east coast and continued as a secretary after her three boys could take care of themselves. She then continued her work in the real estate, business machines and computer areas of business. Arlene was a Christian woman of strong belief and ensured her family of church attendance. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, in Norfolk, for 69 years. She was active in the church serving as recording secretary, alter guild group, women's league member various other committees. Arlene was a hands on mother and served as an advocate for her sons during their time at home. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much. She was schooled in hand writing analysis, was an accomplished painter, going up to the limits of her instructors and was a very meticulous and detailed note taker and record keeper. She was a very determined person and also a strong advocate for her neighborhood and was not afraid to speak her mind to officials. She mainly enjoyed working cross word puzzles and playing bingo and her mind was sharp until the last week. Arlene will be laid to rest surrounded by her family on the 71st anniversary of her wedding.
The funeral took place at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Dr. Chapel on Thursday, February 16, 2017. Viewing took place from 1:30-2:30 p.m. with services was family only. Flowers or contributions to a charity of choice will be fine. The family of Arlene thanks everyone who was her friend or supported her through the years.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Feb. 15, 2017
Norfolk - Arlene Bernice Nelson, born in a wash house on the Nebraska prairie, south of Wilcox in Franklin County September 10, 1923, passed peacefully into eternal grace on February 11, 2017 at the age of 93 in Virginia Beach. She had been a resident of Norfolk for 69 years. Both her sons were by her side.
She was the only daughter of John Harms (1890-1938) and Engelina Harms (Reil) (1898-1926). Arlene was raised by her grandmothers and relatives during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowls of that time. She was a salutatorian graduate Hildreth High School, Hildreth, NE. Besides her parents she was preceded by her brother Clinton A. Harms (1919), her husband of 49 years, BMCS Richard J. Nelson Sr. USN (1923-1995), her son, Thomas Leif Nelson (1950-1973) and two step sisters, Ardella and Helen Leach.
Survivors include her brother, Robert Harms of Kearney, NE; step-sisters, Bernice Clark of Holdrege, NE, Elaine Worthing of Venango, NE; hers sons, Richard J. Nelson, Jr., (Marsue) of Suffolk, VA and John R. Nelson (Karen) of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren, Richard H. Nelson, Melissa N. Faris, both of Virginia Beach, Dawn N. Edquist of Newport News, VA, Eric T. Nelson and Jennifer A. Graham, both of Portsmouth, VA; great-grandchildren, Jordan N. Nelson of Virginia Beach, Hunter S. Graham, Kaiden J. Graham, Harper K. McDonald, all of Portsmouth and Rachel A. Edquist of Newport News. Arlene was a secretary most of her life. She started her work life working for the WPA, then as a tire rationing worker during WW 2, she eventually worked in Hanford, WA on the Manhattan Project (Atomic Bomb). Arlene then met her husband and migrated to the east coast and continued as a secretary after her three boys could take care of themselves. She then continued her work in the real estate, business machines and computer areas of business. Arlene was a Christian woman of strong belief and ensured her family of church attendance. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, in Norfolk, for 69 years. She was active in the church serving as recording secretary, alter guild group, women's league member various other committees. Arlene was a hands on mother and served as an advocate for her sons during their time at home. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much. She was schooled in hand writing analysis, was an accomplished painter, going up to the limits of her instructors and was a very meticulous and detailed note taker and record keeper. She was a very determined person and also a strong advocate for her neighborhood and was not afraid to speak her mind to officials. She mainly enjoyed working cross word puzzles and playing bingo and her mind was sharp until the last week. Arlene will be laid to rest surrounded by her family on the 71st anniversary of her wedding.
The funeral took place at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Dr. Chapel on Thursday, February 16, 2017. Viewing took place from 1:30-2:30 p.m. with services was family only. Flowers or contributions to a charity of choice will be fine. The family of Arlene thanks everyone who was her friend or supported her through the years.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Feb. 15, 2017
She was the only daughter of John Harms (1890-1938) and Engelina Harms (Reil) (1898-1926). Arlene was raised by her grandmothers and relatives during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowls of that time. She was a salutatorian graduate Hildreth High School, Hildreth, NE. Besides her parents she was preceded by her brother Clinton A. Harms (1919), her husband of 49 years, BMCS Richard J. Nelson Sr. USN (1923-1995), her son, Thomas Leif Nelson (1950-1973) and two step sisters, Ardella and Helen Leach.
Survivors include her brother, Robert Harms of Kearney, NE; step-sisters, Bernice Clark of Holdrege, NE, Elaine Worthing of Venango, NE; hers sons, Richard J. Nelson, Jr., (Marsue) of Suffolk, VA and John R. Nelson (Karen) of Virginia Beach, VA; grandchildren, Richard H. Nelson, Melissa N. Faris, both of Virginia Beach, Dawn N. Edquist of Newport News, VA, Eric T. Nelson and Jennifer A. Graham, both of Portsmouth, VA; great-grandchildren, Jordan N. Nelson of Virginia Beach, Hunter S. Graham, Kaiden J. Graham, Harper K. McDonald, all of Portsmouth and Rachel A. Edquist of Newport News. Arlene was a secretary most of her life. She started her work life working for the WPA, then as a tire rationing worker during WW 2, she eventually worked in Hanford, WA on the Manhattan Project (Atomic Bomb). Arlene then met her husband and migrated to the east coast and continued as a secretary after her three boys could take care of themselves. She then continued her work in the real estate, business machines and computer areas of business. Arlene was a Christian woman of strong belief and ensured her family of church attendance. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, in Norfolk, for 69 years. She was active in the church serving as recording secretary, alter guild group, women's league member various other committees. Arlene was a hands on mother and served as an advocate for her sons during their time at home. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much. She was schooled in hand writing analysis, was an accomplished painter, going up to the limits of her instructors and was a very meticulous and detailed note taker and record keeper. She was a very determined person and also a strong advocate for her neighborhood and was not afraid to speak her mind to officials. She mainly enjoyed working cross word puzzles and playing bingo and her mind was sharp until the last week. Arlene will be laid to rest surrounded by her family on the 71st anniversary of her wedding.
The funeral took place at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Tidewater Dr. Chapel on Thursday, February 16, 2017. Viewing took place from 1:30-2:30 p.m. with services was family only. Flowers or contributions to a charity of choice will be fine. The family of Arlene thanks everyone who was her friend or supported her through the years.
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Feb. 15, 2017
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