Belvidere, IL

Esther E. Nelson, 83, of Belvidere, IL died peacefully, Thursday evening, May 22, 2014 in OSF St. Anthony Medical Center after a sudden illness, surrounded by her loving family.  Esther was born June 18, 1930 in Oxford, Wisconsin the daughter of William N. and Lillian Alma Amonda (Kanzenbach) Barton.  She married Donald E. Nelson on March 12, 1949 in Lake Delton, WI. Over the years, Esther worked for Bottle Cap, Warner Electric and more recently as a teacher for the Open Bible Academy.  Esther was a former Sunday School Superintendent for Open Bible Church; she enjoyed camping with her family every summer and loved her family deeply; her great-granddaughter Skye was her newest apple of her eye.  Esther was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Belvidere, where she made her spiritual home.

Esther is loved and will be missed by her daughters, Debra (Bill) Werner of Rockford, Carol (Dean) Chambers of Belvidere; grandchildren, Branson Werner of Rockford, Renee (Shane Lunde) Werner of Machesney Park, IL, Heath (Emily) Chambers of Garden Prairie, IL, Brock (Kelcy Wadley) Chambers of Belvidere; great-granddaughter Skye Chambers; sisters, Lilias Drobnik of Rockford, May C. Malisch of Belvidere and Illa Kanzenbach of Belvidere; nieces and nephews.  Esther is preceded in death by her parents, husband- Donald; sisters- Hazel, Dorothy, Lillian and LaVila; brothers- Fred, Charles, George, Merlin and Glen.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2014 in First Presbyterian Church, 221 N. Main Street, Belvidere, IL with Rev. Dr. Robert Kopp, pastor officiating.  A memorial gathering will be held from 9:30 am to service time Monday at the church.  Memorials can be given in care of the First Presbyterian Church, 221 N. Main Street, Belvidere; The Keen Age Center, 2141 Henry Luckow Lane, Belvidere, IL 61008 in Esther's memory.  Arrangements by Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services at Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Chapel, 218 W. Hurlbut Ave., Belvidere, IL 61008.  To light a candle or to share a memory, please visit www.AndersonFCS.com