of Waterford, passed away suddenly at age 72 on January 22, 2016. He was born December 30, 1943 in South Haven, MI to Harry and Mildred Nelson. Dick was preceded in death by his parents; siblings James, Joyce (the late Wayne) Jensen and Marion (the late Dave) Dilly; and his wife of 45 years, Crystal (DeMeyer). Proud father of Gina Nelson and Blake (Shannon) Nelson; loving grandfather of Kathleen, Payton and Quinn; brother of Ralph (the late Joan) Nelson and Carol (Aram) Hernandez. Dick attended Augustana College in Rock Island, IL where he met and married Crystal on September 23, 1967. The couple moved to Minneapolis/St. Paul where Dick completed his graduate studies at Northwestern Lutheran Theological School. In 1972, Dick answered a call to be pastor for two congregations in northern lower Michiganmdash;St. Johnrsquo;s Lutheran Church in Lake City and Trinity Lutheran Church in Manton. In 1974, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Gina, and then in 1976, with their son Blake. They moved to Waterford in January 1984 when Dick answered another callmdash;this time for Christ Lutheran Church which he retired from in 2002. Dick was a volunteer fireman and chaplain for the fire department while in Lake City; he was the police and fire chaplain for Waterford Township for several years before he retired. He was a member and past-president of the Rotary Club of Waterford. Dick enjoyed dancing, many sports (both playing in his younger years and watching in the later), reading and continual learningmdash;even after retirement he was active in book clubs and led many discussion groups.