Eloise Nelson, wife of retired Covenant minister LeRoy Nelson, died May 1, 2024.
Eloise Veronne Anderson was born to Ivar and Elvera Anderson in Princeton, Minnesota, on Good Friday, April 14, 1933. Two years later, her sister, Joanne, was born and brother Bob was born four years after that. Her father Ivar was a Baptist minister, which led the family to live in various places, including Providence, Rhode Island; Manistee and Ludington, Michigan; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Chicago, Illinois.
Eloise attended Bethel College in St. Paul, earning a BA in English and journalism. Following college, Eloise worked at Covenant Headquarters in Chicago as an editorial assistant on The Covenant Companion, where she met LeRoy Nelson who was working in the shipping department. They were married at Northwest Baptist Church on August 17, 1957.
Following LeRoy’s graduation from North Park Theological Seminary, they settled in Chicago. Three daughters were born in the 1960s: Sonja, Sandra, and Stephanie. Eloise was home in those early years with much involvement for the whole family at nearby North Park Covenant Church. The moms of several families from church met for weekly Bible study; this group of dear friends has met regularly for more than 60 years. Their kids spent time together from preschool through high school and even college at North Park. Eloise volunteered at church in numerous ways: serving on the Trustee board where she was the first woman chair, playing an active role in Covenant Women, helping organize the annual Alley Walk, coordinating church anniversary celebrations, planning special events, and singing in the choir for many years.
After working in the church office for a few years, Eloise continued her career as director of publications for North Park College. She wrote and edited campus publications, including the quarterly magazine, The North Parker. This was meaningful work for her, and her attention to detail meant that communications with alumni and the community were of the highest caliber. It was especially thrilling that North Park’s basketball team won five NCAA national championships while she was there.
Following her years at North Park, she was appointed director of communications at Covenant Ministries of Benevolence where she worked until her retirement. While there, among many other projects, she wrote and edited several books with a keen eye for accuracy and style.
Eloise was active in other organizations such as the Swedish-American Historical Society; she was on the board of directors several times and served as the first woman chair of the board, demonstrating reliable and responsible leadership. She served on the Service Guild at Swedish Covenant Hospital and later taught memoir writing at Elderhostel retreats and women’s conferences.
Another gift was entertaining. She was a generous host, inviting groups and people from all over the world into their home. She created beautiful décor for every occasion and made sure that each detail was well-planned. Eloise and LeRoy also hosted overnight guests through a casual bed-and-breakfast in their home. They enjoyed meeting visitors who became friends. Their home in the North Park neighborhood was always welcoming to their kids’ friends who often stopped by to enjoy their warm hospitality. Her skill at decorating extended to special events at church, creating centerpieces for dinners for the Swedish-American Historical Society and galas at Covenant Living of Northbrook.
Many summers were spent at their cabin in Spread Eagle, Wisconsin. She enjoyed entertaining there as well as sitting on the deck and boating on the chain of lakes. Eloise was a patient and involved grandma, reading to the kids, playing games, doing puzzles, and taking them for rides in the paddle boat. She and LeRoy delighted in caring for their young grandchildren, taking them on fun outings and devoting quality time with them. She gave thoughtful and generous gifts, picked out specially for each child and grandchild.
LeRoy and Eloise moved to Covenant Living of Northbrook in December 2008, where they quickly felt at home. Eloise served on the Residents’ Council, the Spiritual Life committee, and of course, decorated for special events including the early morning services of Easter and Christmas Julotta.
She was a member of North Park Covenant Church for more than 50 years and Winnetka Covenant Church in Wilmette, Illinois, most recently. Throughout her life, her faith was nurtured by her active participation in the church.
Eloise is survived by her husband, LeRoy; three daughters, Sonja Nelson, Sandy Nelson (Christopher Brown), and Stephanie Nelson (Kendall Magnuson); grandchildren J.O., Ryne, Yarrow, Stella, Frances, and Elsie; and one great-granddaughter, Lucy; sister Joanne Hultgren (Vern), and brother Bob Anderson (the late Glenda) and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at North Park Covenant Church (5250 N. Christiana Avenue, Chicago) on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 11:00 am. Lunch will follow in the church parlors, catered by Tre Kronor restaurant.
Gifts in memory of Eloise may be given to the Benevolent Care Fund at Covenant Living of Northbrook, 2625 Techny Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062.
Peace be to her memory.
