Stewart E. Nelson, 66, Stevens Point, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, at St Joseph Hospital in Marshfield.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 7, at Boston Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, at the funeral home and Thursday, March 7, from 10 a.m. until the service.
Memorials may be made to the Frank Hornberg Chapter of Trout Unlimited, United Way of Portage County or the Community Foundation Green Circle Trail.
Condolences may be offered online at bostonfuneralhome.net.
Mr. Nelson was born Oct. 7, 1946, in Amery, a son of the late Ervin and Helen (Olson) Nelson. He grew up there, attending local schools and graduating from high school in 1964.
He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1964. He served on the DMZ in Korea and did a tour of duty in Vietnam. He was the commander of a team of six in a personnel carrier. He was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in August 1967.
He attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) on the GI Bill and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1972.
He was married to Meryl Lee Hoeft on January 24, 1970, at St. Paul’s United Methodist church in Stevens Point.
He worked for Sentry Insurance for 33 years, working his way up from a supply clerk, to office claims adjuster, field claims adjuster, claims supervisor, and a variety of other supervisory and oversight roles.
He was a founding and active member of the Aldo Leopold Audubon Society, an active member of the Ruffed Grouse Society, a past member of Ducks Unlimited, and a Hunter Safety instructor for more than 15 years. He was an active member of the local Frank Hornberg Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and taught entomology and fly tying at its annual Fly Fishing School at the Riverside Bible Camp. He taught fly tying and entomology for more than 30 years at UWSP Treehaven. He was also a member of the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau; the Ridges Sanctuary in Bailey’s Harbor; and Windjammers Sailing Club in Suamico.
Survivors include his wife; one brother, Robin Nelson, Hillsboro; nieces; and a nephew.
