John Adrian Nelson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

John A. Nelson, 84, of Saginaw, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2020. John was born in Berkley, Michigan on October 23, 1934, the son of the late John Carl Nelson (Johan Nilsson) and Ella (Bleakley) Nelson. He graduated from Berkley High School in 1952, where he met Joan F. Clark. They were married in Auburn, Indiana in 1955 and had four children: John Paul, Janet Pauline, JoAnne Paula and James Phillip. They were married for fifty-five years when Joan Fay passed in 2010. John remarried in 2011 to Sue (Chambers) Kucher in Puerto Rico. John graduated from Kalamazoo College, and later in life from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. After undergraduate he joined the financial staff at General Motors, where he was gainfully employed for thirty-eight years. He joined as a clerk and retired as a corporate officer. During his time at General Motors, John served as the Director of Corporate Accounting, Assistant Controller of Pontiac Division, Controller of Guide Division, Assistant Comptroller of General Motors, General Director of Accounting at Chevrolet-Pontiac-General Motors of Canada, Controller of Harrison Division, Controller of Saginaw Division and General Auditor of General Motors. John retired in 1995. He was retired for eighteen months and decided that was not for him, so he joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as Vice President and General Auditor, again retiring in 1999. John had a lifelong passion for community service. He served as President of Central Indiana Mental Health Association; President of Boy Scout Council, Lockport, NY; Chairman of the Board and Director of United Way of Western, NY; VP of Chamber of Commerce, Anderson, IN; Chairman Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Saginaw, MI; Member of Allocation Committees of United Way of Anderson, IN and Lockport, NY; Chairperson, Board of Directors Lutheran Social Service of MI; and President of Ascension Lutheran Church in Saginaw. A true outdoors enthusiast, John enjoyed 45 years of remote wilderness fishing with his dear friends. Surviving are his wife Sue; daughters, Janet (John W. Myers) and JoAnne Nelson; stepdaughter, Katie (Brandon) Grund; stepson, Patrick (Monica) Kucher; four granddaughters, Roseanne and Marianne Palmieri, Sarah (Shane) Champion, and Morgan Lehman; one grandson, Franklin King; two step-granddaughters, Briella and Elliana Grund; and four great-grandchildren, Alice Champion; Tyler, Gavin, and Camille King. John always had a great love and passion for dogs, and always had one by his side throughout his entire life. and leaves behind his faithful four-legged buddy, Abbey. Abbey will miss being with John while he did his outdoor chores. In addition to his parents, John was preceded by his sisters, Sigrid Duncan and Elizabeth Nelson; his brother, Carl Nelson, and his two sons, John Paul and James Phillip. John's family will be present to receive visitors on Saturday, October 23, 2021 from 1:00 PM until the time of his 2:00 PM Memorial at Ascension Lutheran Church, 8695 Gratiot Rd., Saginaw. Pastor Julie Bradley will be officiating. Memorial contributions may be directed to Samaritas (samaritas.org), Ascension Lutheran Church, 8695 Gratiot Rd., Saginaw, MI 48609, or Paws with a Cause (pawswithacause.org). Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family online at www.skorupskis.com.

John Adrian Nelson

October 23, 1934 - May 8, 2020