Club Leaders

IN MEMORIAM

CLUB of DOWNERS GROVE

Remember Kiwanis Members

VAUGHN ARTHUR NELSON

Vaughn Nelson, who resided at 5831 Middaugh in Downers Grove Illinois, died on February 22, 2008. Visitation was at the Modell Funeral Home, and his funeral was on February 27, at the First Presbyterian Church were he was a member.

He was born on August 27, 1930, in the rolling farm and ranch area of central Nebraska known as the Sandhills, the third of six children - four sons and two daughters - born to James and Hallie Nelson. It was the eve of the depression, drought and dust bowl days and the family survived by growing most of their own food and selling eggs and milk. The kids walked two miles to Round Hill School, a two-room country school that Vaughn attended through ninth grade. He then attended Broken Bow High School 17 miles from home. His parents would rent a room in town for sleeping Monday through Friday, and then bring the kids home on the weekends.

After graduating from high school in 1947, Vaughn farmed rented land with his brother Darrell for four years. Expecting to be drafted, he and a buddy enlisted in the Army. He was stationed at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, and at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, much of the time in engineering-type activities.

Vaughn attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln on the GI Bill, completing a Bachelors degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1958. Vaughn accepted an Engineering position with International Harvester in Chicago upon graduation, and the next year a new Engineering Center in Burr Ridge opened. He and Wilma Kramer, a teacher he met in Omaha, were married in June 1959 and set up housekeeping in Downers Grove, where Wilma continued teaching. Lisa was born the next year, Tracy two years after and Andrea six years later. .

Vaughn retired from International Harvester in 1985 after 28 years.

He joined the Kiwanis Club of Downers Grove, where he was elected President 1996-1997. While with Kiwanis he helped support a handicapped Boy Scout Troop, and he served as a volunteer answering letters at Compassionate Friends National Office. Besides gardening and fishing, his love was woodworking. He made clocks and helped with numerous carpentry projects for charity, as well as assisting with the renovation of his daughter Tracy’s house.

Vaughn will be deeply missed by his wife Wilma, daughter Lisa Nelson and granddaughters Rudy and Selah Holland; daughter and son-in-law David and Tracy Childs and grandsons Patrick and Ryan; brothers Darrell and his wife Cleo; Leland and his wife Patricia; Leon and his wife Mary; and his sisters Lois Conrin and LeaAnn Hughes. He was preceded in death by his youngest daughter Andrea, his brother-in-law Gene Conrin, his brother-in-law Patrick Hughes, and brother-in-law Norman Kramer.