William M. “Bill” Nelson, 86, of Festus died Nov. 21, 2019, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Nelson was a contractor for the Defense Mapping Agency in St. Louis and served in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of the Hillsboro Masonic Lodge and American Legion Post 253. Born Nov. 29, 1932, in Crystal City, he was the son of the late Myrtle (Peebles) Whiteside and Charles William Nelson.
He is survived by his wife: Janet (Guelbert) Nelson; a son: Charles William Nelson of Baytown, Texas; a daughter: Kathy (Ed) Aumann of Festus; six grandchildren: Tori (Eric) Haislar, Charles (Olivia) Nelson, Dawn (Jamie) Majano, Angie (Kirk) Brown, Michael (Jenny) Aumann and Carla (John) Sherman; and 13 great-grandchildren: Connor, Olivia, Nick, Emmy, Viviene, Jordyn, Jakob, Owen, Nicole, Alex, Sierra, Caleb, and Dustin.
He was preceded in death by two sisters: Vivian (the late Ray) Boyer and Mildred (the late Mel) Carpenter; and a brother: Louis Whiteside.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Our Lady Catholic Church, 1550 St. Mary’s Lane, Festus, officiated by Father Gregory Klump. Burial with full military honors will be at the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.