Gustav Eugene NELSON (NILSSON)
Obituary



Gustav Eugene (Gene) Nelson (Nilsson), 90, of 1110 Lakeview Ave. passed away at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 2014, in the Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center..

He was born September 28, 1923 in Timra Forsaml Vasternorrl, Sweden a son of the late Gustav and Olga Marie Wilhelmina Nyblad Nilsson..

He and his family lived in Jamestown, NY during the 1920's, then moved back to Sweden where he served twice in the Swedish Air Force, during World War II, stationed on an island just below the Arctic Circle..

In 1946 he played on the Swedish National Champion Rugby Team, the "Panthers". He was named Sweden's number 1 rugby player, and his brother, Volgert was number 2.. He was Stockholm boxing champ in his weight class. At 60 years old he finished the Chautauqua Co. "Overland Cross country Ski Marathon.

He returned to the USA in 1947 as an Electro Mechanic..

Gene married Hazel Fern Lowell, daughter of Clyde and Beulah Blodgett Lowell of Lamberton, NY on July 3, 1948 in the Fredonia Methodist Church. They were married for almost 61 years when she passed away on May 21, 2009..

Before his retirement he was employed by Jamestown Metal Products. In previous years he had worked for Blackstone Corporation, Remington Rand, had owned and operated Nelson's Office Machines on Second St. in Jamestown, NY, from 1966 to 1977, and was a supervisor for Yorktown Industries..

As an avid sportsman, Gene coached Minor and Little League Baseball and one of the coach's for the Northside Midget Football Team. He and his wife Hazel brought back the struggling Jamestown Soccer Club, (Vikings, Beavers and Jamestown Soccer Club) in the 1950's. In the early 1960's, Gene was a player coach of the two semi-pro soccer teams that joined together. In the late 1970's, Gene and his son, Eugen, started the youth soccer program, with all the youth in the area in one organization, prior to the JAYS program. Gene was a Willow Run Golf Course Club Champion in 1973, and club champion at Point Chautauqua in 1979. He had been a member of the South Hills Country Club from 1980 to 2002.At 65 Years old he played in door soccer in the Jamestown soccer Club indoor league.

He ran for city council, for the north side but was defeated. Gene was appointed Assistant Parks and Recreation Director and was also appointed to the Chautauqua County Board of Health..

Surviving are his two sons, Eugen V. Nelson of The Villages, FL, Douglas C. (Julie) Nelson of Jamestown and two grandchildren, Ashley (Danny) Whitmore of Lily Dale, NY, Aaron Nelson of Jamestown.



Learn more about the life of immigrant flag male ancestor  Gustav Eugene NELSON (NILSSON).