Raymond Nelson Obituary

Dr. Raymond S. Nelson left this life on October 24, 2014, bringing to a close 93 years filled with family, faith, friends and creative endeavors. A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM, Saturday, November 22, 2014 at Faith Covenant Church, 4965 Barnes Rd., in Colorado Springs, CO 80918. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the University Friends Church in Wichita, KS.

Born on October 11, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY to John and Gudrun Nelson, Ray was the first of six children. He graduated from Trinity Seminary in 1943 in Minneapolis, MN and married his lovely wife, Margaret, later that year. As a young Evangelical Free Church pastor, he served churches in Detroit, MI, Lexington, NE and Maple Plain, MN.

While in Maple Plain he attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a Master's Degree in English in 1957. He began a new career later that year as a professor of English at Morningside College in Sioux City, IA. Ray was a gifted teacher and excelled in the academic life. He became head of the English Department, then Academic Dean and later Vice-president of Morningside College. During these years he earned his PhD in English from the University of Nebraska in 1967. In 1979 he received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Morningside College, to honor his service to the college during the 19 years he was there.

In 1976 he accepted a teaching position at Friends University in Wichita, KS. He was elected Chairman of the faculty two years later and was interim academic dean on two occasions in the coming years. He and Margaret joined the University Friends church and were actively involved there during their Wichita years. He retired from his full time teaching position at Friends in 1990, and was granted Emeritus status by the Board of Trustees. He continued to teach on a part time basis for some years after his retirement.

Ray was a gifted poet and published his first collection of poems, "Not By Bread Alone," in 1982. This was the first of nine volumes of poetry that were published in the coming years. Several of these volumes sold in the thousands, a unique achievement in a literary field that is considered non-commercial. He joined the Kansas Authors Club shortly after arriving in Wichita, and he and Margaret were active in that organization, both serving as Chair of the statewide organization. During this time he also chaired the Wichita Chamber Chorale and Friends of the Wichita Public Library among other activities. During his retirement years he pursued a number of interests including growing day lilies as part of the Wichita Day Lily Club, tending bee hives for honey, gardening and visiting and enjoying his large and growing family.

His beloved Margaret passed away in 2005 after 62 years together. He resettled in Harlan, IA several years later to be near his daughter Fay. He moved to Colorado Springs, CO in 2013 to be with his son John, and that is where his 93 year journey came to a close. Ray is survived by his daughter, Fay Smith of Harlan, IA, and three sons, John P. Nelson of Colorado Springs, CO, R. Stanley Nelson of Charles Town,WV, Timothy M. Nelson of Muscatine, IA., twelve grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Alice Odland of Palm Harbor, FL and Doris York of Yorkville, IL as well as a large extended family. Although a man of modest means, he liked to say that he was a "wealthy man," rich in family and friends, the things that matter most. He was deeply loved, and he will be missed.