Alice J. Nelson, wife of retired Covenant Pastor J. Robert Nelson,
died on October 12,
2020, in Marquette, Michigan. She was 92.
Alice Jean Nelson was born to parents Clair and Esther (Hammerlind) Moxon on May 12, 1928, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was the second youngest of seven children, and spent her childhood in the Grand Rapids area. From a young age, Alice developed a love for music and God’s creation; assisted by her mother, Alice collected an impressive number of insects and learned to play the cello. She graduated from Central High School in 1946.
Alice went on to attend the University of Michigan. Her love of both music and insects led to her to pursue a teaching degree in biology and a minor in music. In college she was actively involved in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, where she cultivated lifelong friendships. She loved Saturday football games and remained a Michigan football fan for her entire life. She graduated in 1951.
Alice obtained a teaching position in Hart, Michigan, where she enjoyed sharing her love and knowledge of the natural world with her students. She continued sharing that knowledge during her summer breaks as a naturalist at Phil DeGraaf’s Lodge in Paradise, Michigan. There she would take the guests on walks and teach them about the plants and animals in the local ecosystems. She also used her writing skills to publish a newsletter for guests and shared fun stories with her family of her years there.
During this time, she met the love of her life at a retreat at Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp. As she sat on a bench whistling to songbirds—one of her many talents—Bob Nelson noticed her and walked over to see what she was doing. They had their first date a month later, right after she started planning her wedding, because she felt the Lord telling her that he was the one. She and Bob were engaged three months later, and were married the following year on June 20, 1958. That summer they moved to Chicago for Bob to finish seminary at North Park College, and Alice obtained a teaching position at North Park Academy, a private school on campus.
Alice served alongside Bob at churches in Port Alleghany, Pennsylvania (from 1961 to 1966); Tustin, Michigan (1966-1970); Traverse City, Michigan (1970-1977); and finally Ishpeming, Michigan, where they lived and served for 39 years. As Bob began his ministry, Alice chose to leave her teaching career and focus on raising their four children and serving the Lord alongside him, handling the many responsibilities and needs that come with shepherding a church. At the age of 60, Alice started her own landscape gardening business, North Country Gardens. She designed and installed beautiful perennial gardens at many homes and businesses around Marquette County for 25 years. She finally retired at the age of 85.
Alice was a woman of many talents and interests, and loved sharing them with those around her. A gifted cellist, she regularly played special music for church services, and performed chamber music with a string quartet in Traverse City. She wrote poetry throughout her lifetime, including one just six months before she went home to her Lord. Alice created beautiful banners, floral arrangements, and centerpieces for the churches over the years. She sewed Halloween costumes and prom dresses, decorated birthday cakes, and grew amazing vegetable and flower gardens. She loved photography and left her family with many albums full of beautiful memories. Alice loved taking nature walks with family and friends, and was always ready to identify every plant, butterfly, insect, or animal. She instilled her love for her Lord’s creation deeply in each of her children, as well as her grandchildren.
Her greatest gift to her family was a deep and abiding faith in her Lord, a faith that she lived out every day.
Alice was preceded in death by a nephew, Roger Moxon. She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, J. Robert Nelson; four children, Paul Nelson (Liz) of Sands Township, Michigan; Gail Bleidt (Peter) of Lewellen, Nebraska; Sharon Nelson-Curtice of Gwinn, Michigan; and Mark Nelson (Jacquie) of Ishpeming, Michigan; eight grandchildren, Jesse Bleidt, Dustin Bleidt, Caitlin Curtice, Cooper Curtice, Emily Curtice, Brittany Yates (Zach), Matthew Nelson, and Michael Nelson; and one great-granddaughter, Nora Yates.
A celebration of Alice’s life was held at Bethel Baptist Church in Marquette on July 17, 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Bethel Baptist’s Christian Education Fund, 829 Grove Street, Marquette, MI 49855.
Peace be to her memory.
