John Edward Nelson, 72, of Rockford, passed away on Saturday, October 28, 2017. He was born on July 25, 1945, in Rockford; the son of Harold E. and Clarice E. (Ekstrom) Nelson. John was a graduate of Rockford East, class of 1963 and of the University of Minnesota. Where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was the CEO of Tool Masters for many years.

Survived by his longtime companion of over 40 years, Mary Katherine "M.K." Murray; children, Victoria (Mark) Ellis, Nicholas (Trisha) Raia, Christine (Bradley) Crawford, Francis (Kandy) Raia; six grandchildren, Katherine, Frances, Josephine, Jackson, Grace, and Zacharia; sister, Christine (Gerald) Bauer; sister-in-law, Suzanne Nelson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 2017 in Fred C. Olson Chapel, 1001 Second Ave., Rockford, with Pastor Maurice A. West officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. in the chapel. Burial in Scandinavian Cemetery. Family prefers memorials made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Greater Bay, 49 Stevenson Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94105 or online at greaterbay@jdrf.org .   Thanks Olson F.H.