Posted October 6, 2008

Dr. Ronald Nelson, 1991.Ronald E. Nelson, 73, of Macomb passed away on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, at his home in Macomb.

He was born on April 24, 1935, in Farmersville, Ill., to Millard and Mildred Mayfield Nelson. On Sept. 14, 1957, he married Sandra Singler in Litchfield, Ill. She survives.

He is also survived by his sons, Scott (Kris) Nelson of Golden, Colo., Andy (Kelly) Nelson of Normal, Ill., and Jeff (Cherie) Nelson of Columbus, Ohio; four grandchildren, Katelyn and Kyle of Normal, Ill., and Sydney and Jeffrey of Golden, Colo.; stepbrothers and stepsisters, Tom (Joan) Boehler of Waggoner, Ill., Gene (Kay) Boehler of Waggoner, Ill., Wayne (Michelle) Boehler of Richfield Hills, Texas, Blanche (Norman) Bourland of Wellington, Fla., and Alice (Don) Davis of Ocala, Fla.; and one brother-in-law, John (Annette) Smith of Springfield, Ill.

Dr. Nelson graduated from the University of Nebraska with a PhD in geography. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

He was on the faculty at Western Illinois University, where he taught in the Department of Geography for 31 years. At Western, he taught cultural and regional geography and graduate methodology, was the geography department's graduate committee chairperson for several years and served on numerous university committees. He began his teaching career at Morehead State University in Kentucky. He moved to Macomb in 1964.

During his career, Dr. Nelson served as editor of both the Bulletin of the Illinois Geographical Society and the Journal of Geography. He also served on the editorial board of the Journal of Developing Areas. He was also the editor of Illinois: Land and Life in the Prairie State and senior author of Human Geography: People, Cultures and Landscapes.

He was the president of the Illinois Geographical Society, from which he was awarded the Distinguished Illinois Geographer Award in 1980. He was a member of the executive board of the National Council of Geographic Education.

"He made an important contribution to the discipline of geography," said Dr. Chris Sutton, past chairman of the WIU Department of Geography and former student of Dr. Nelson. "Ron's contribution as a scholar and journal editor were matched by his ability to inspire undergraduate and graduate students. Prior to his illness, Ron was a frequent visitor to the department following his retirement. He will be sorely missed."

In the community, he was active with coaching his sons' YMCA and park district baseball teams, with the Bomber Booster Club and chaired the first annual auction for Intercollegiate Athletics.

He taught numerous Elderhostel and LIFE programs on the role of colonies in the pioneer group settlement of west central Illinois, particularly Bishop Hill. He remained active in the preservation of Bishop Hill as a state historical site.

He served in the U.S. Army in active duty with the Nebraska National Guard and was recalled to active duty with the Kentucky Army Reserves as an instructor during the Berlin Wall Crisis in 1961-1962.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, at the Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb, with the Revs. Russell Smith and Steve Smith officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Macomb. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 8, 2008 and one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to either the Bishop Hill Heritage Association, graduate scholarships in the Department of Geography or to the McDonough District Hospital Hospice Program.

You may leave condolences and sign the guestbook online at clugston-tibbittsfh.com.

Click here for directions to Clugston-Tibbits Funeral Home.