Philip W. Nelson

Philip W. Nelson passed away peacefully at Hospice House in Mishawaka following a brief illness.

Philip was born April 30, 1945 on his mother’s birthday, while his father was serving as a Marine in WWII.

Philip began his schooling at Bertrand School where his mother and children also attended.

He was in the first graduating class of Brandywine High School.  His senior year he worked at Kroger in East Gate Plaza. He went on to study electronics at Howard Sams in Indianapolis, and also attended South Bend College of Commerce and earned an Associates degree in business at Southwestern Michigan College.  He worked in sales at Carpenter Technology and Cutting Tools, Inc in South Bend, retiring in 2015.

Phil loved to laugh, and had a great sense of humor.   He was a gifted piano player, performing for many cantatas, weddings, vocalists and countless Sunday morning services.  He had a unique and memorable style that enhanced the listening enjoyment of everything he played.  He also participated in occasional live band performances in small venues.  He enjoyed reading, photography, cooking, traveling, fishing, nature, playing chess, cards and many board games.  In the ‘70s and ‘80s, he enjoyed playing handball and racquetball, and spending time with his family and friends camping and four-wheeling on the sand dunes of Lake Michigan.

Phil is survived by his loving wife of nearly 56 years, Jan (Borst), father Charles (& Norma Jean) Nelson, Daughter Kim (& Chris) Gallup, sons Philip (& Tanya) Nelson and David (& Ruenette) Nelson, his grandchildren Katherine, Kristen, Zach and Vivian, brother Mark, sister Diana, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Philip was preceded in death by his mother Jayne Nelson and his grandson, Charles Gallup.

The celebration of life for Phil Nelson will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at the Community Evangelical Free Church (CEFC), 120 East Bertrand Road in Niles with  Pastor Matt Hickok of the church officiating.  The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday at the church beginning at 1:00 p.m.  Attendance will be limited, masks required, and social distancing practiced.  Others may witness the events via the livestreamed broadcast on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices/ .

Contributions in memory of Phil may be made to Community Evangelical Free Church, 120 East Bertrand Road, Niles, Michigan, 49120; https://communityniles.com/ ; or to the Bible Study Fellowship International, 19001 Huebner Road, San Antonio, Texas, 78258, https://www.bsfinternational.org/ .  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com