Charlene "Char" Mae Nelson, 79, of Belvidere, IL, passed away at 9:08 PM, Monday, February 13, 2017 at Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center. Char was born on October 1, 1937 in Pekin, IL, the daughter of Floyd and Orma (Williams) Kuhn. She married her high school sweetheart, Leonard "Bud" Nelson on September 1, 1957 at San Jose United Methodist Church in San Jose, IL.  Char is survived by one daughter Kim  (Darryl) Wheeler of Belvidere; one son, Kyle (Cheri) Nelson of Greenville, WI; four grandchildren, Chelsey (Ross) Simler, Brendan Wheeler, William Nelson and Matthew Nelson; one brother Floyd (Mavis) Kuhn and one sister, Sylvia (James) Spivey and several nieces and nephews. Her husband, parents and sister, Ruth Hawley, preceded her in death.  Char retired in 2005 from State Farm Insurance in Canton, IL. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Belvidere. Before retiring, she was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Canton, IL

Funeral Service will 3:00 p.m., Monday, February 20, 2017 at First Free Chapel, 2223 North Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61107. A visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service. Burial at White Chapel Memory Gardens in Canton, IL, at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 21, 2017. Memorials can be given to Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center of Rockford, Illinois in Char's memory. To light a candle or share a condolence, please visit www.AndersonFCS.com.