Hans Nelson

H.C. Nelson Jr., 85, of Kansas City, MO, passed away December 11, 2011 at his home. He was born March 23, 1926 in Sunbright, TN, the youngest child born to Hans Conrad Nelson, Sr., and Bessie Human Nelson of Morgan County, TN. H.C.'s family moved to Knoxville, TN where he graduated from Knoxville High School. He attended the University of Tennessee and was a member of the UT Cross Country Track Team. He served in the United States Army Air Corp as a radioman and gunner on a B-17 aircraft with 25 months of military service. In August 1951 , H.C. married Evelyn Jeffers. They were married for 51 years. Evelyn preceded him in death in February 2003. H.C. worked at General Motors and Delco Batteries in Kansas City, MO, in several capacities. He retired after many years of service. While working for General Motors, H.C. wrote the following poem for an audit meeting, "When I retire this old house of clay, there are some things I'd like to say. I may be talking about when life is o'er or some important things that may happen before. There's the way I may cope with this anxiety that is ever present in our society. And when care is pressing me down a bit, I'd like to say I didn't quit. When dream's of success seems sometimes in doubt, I'd like to say that I stuck it out. And when with gloom and failure I'm sometimes hit, I'd like to say I didn't quit. May the same be true with my profession, through the good times, and through the recessions. May I handle my job with fairness and care, for my job determines the way I will fare. May I have contentment and no remorse when I retire from this labor force. And when all is over and I've run the race, I have no fears nor regrets of the destiny I face, Amen". H.C. was a kind and friendly person. He was talkative, but not argumentative or highly opinionated. He was quick to smile and laugh, but his disapproving silence could be deafening. He was also a season's ticket holder for the Kansas City Chiefs for many years, God permitted H.C. to pursue and be highly successful in the endeavors of life that he regarded important. He served mankind well. May God say, "Well done, faithful servant." He was preceded in death by his sisters, Vella Long and Sydney Leonard, Survivors include brothers-in-law, Fred Long and Dale Boring; sisters-in-law, Rita Jeffers and Virginia Jeffers; Nephew, Fred Long, Jr.; nieces, Linda Fuller, Linda Wilder, Debbie Headrick and Sandra Jeffers; and cousins, E.V. "Bud" Nelson, Shirley Nelson, Joan Hall, Mary Kay Kelly, Jack Nelson and wife, Toni, and Edwin Nelson.
The family will receive friends Monday, December 19, 2011 from 11:00a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Sunbright. Funeral Services will follow at 12:00p.m. with Reverend Frank Kirby officiating. Interment will be in the Sunbright Cemetery, Sunbright, TN