Nancy (Rook) Nelson

Nancy R. Nelson, age 88, died July 18, 2017 in Cincinnati, OH, where she had been a resident of Ohio Living Llanfair Retirement since her move from Ann Arbor, MI in 2010. She was born September 14, 1928 in Grandville MI. She attended Hope College, in Holland MI. for 2 years. She transferred to the University of Michigan where she met Alvin Nelson. Nancy graduated with a nursing degree in 1951 and married Al on June 30, 1951. In her 40 year career as a Registered Nurse in and around the U of M Hospital System, she worked in several areas including Labor and Delivery, hypertension clinic, a study on Rotavirus as causation of diarrhea in children, the Dental School Oral Surgery Department, and finally Women's Hospital. Nancy was an adventurer.

Soon after her three children were born she discovered Lake Cumberland in KY as a vacation destination. The family camped one summer in 1963. Within ten years the family decided a boat and a cottage was needed to take full advantage of the lake. The Roundhouse is still enjoyed by the family today. She made sure her children were trained in swimming and the whole family was certified in Boating Safety. Nancy became very active in the UM Nursing alumni and was the secretary for many years and helped arrange reunions. Her husband Al had lived in a dorm, the Vaughn House. They formed a group, the “Vaughn House Mugs”, a virtual Co-ed alumni group. Being lifelong residents of Ann Arbor, Nancy and Al arranged annual "Mugs" reunions during home coming weekends. During the weekend the Mugs would attend a picnic at the Nelson Family home.

Nancy was an inter-generational person. In 1983 she would drive across town to use her son Scott's Kaypro 2 CPM microcomputer to manage the U of M Nurses alumni association records. She bought her own Kaypro 10, migrating later to Windows and all the way to Windows 10. She constructed a family history on her micro-computers using genealogy software. Later, when it was discovered by her grand niece to have two email addresses, she was recognized as an honorary member of Generation X.

Education was a top priority for Nancy. She and Al provided funds for music lessons, instruments and toward college tuition for their children and grandchildren. Nancy was an animal lover. Even though she was allergic to dogs and cats, she made sure there were pets like birds and rodents and especially loved being around her family’s and other’s dogs, etc.

Preceded in death by her parents John Wesley & Nita (Caldwell) Rook and step-father Jack VanKoevering; her husband Alvin Nelson and son Eric Nelson. Left to remember are her children Victoria (Kenneth) Paullus, Scott (Magali) Nelson; grandchildren Anthony (Angela) Nelson, Angela Paullus, Sarah Paullus; great grandchildren Evan & Eleanor Means and Evelyn Sue Nelson; and countless family and friends.

Gifts in her memory may go to the School of Nursing Alumni Society Scholarship Fund (796011), U-M School of Nursing, Office of Development & Alumni Relations, 400 N. Ingalls St., Suite 1154, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482 (http://victo.rs/2uhHzM1) or Animal Friends Humane Society, 1820 Princeton Road, Hamilton, OH 45011 (www.animalfriendshs.org). Memorial Service will be held Saturday, August 12 at 10:30 am at Llanfair Retirement Community, 1701 Llanfair Ave., Cincinnati OH 45224. Please visit www.avancefuneralhome.com for more information and to offer condolences.

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