Mr. Holly Erwin Nelson passed away Friday, November 30, 2012 at age 89. Holly was born December
25, 1922 to Erwin and Eva (House) Nelson in Manistee, MI.

He grew up in northwest Michigan and
graduated from Onekama High School (Onekama, MI) in 1940. On May 25, 1946, he married Mary (nee Ziegeler) and they lived in Ann Arbor, MI; Highland Park, MI; Redford, MI; and Birmingham, MI, before
moving to Glen Ellyn, Il in 1975.

Holly was a World War II Veteran serving in the US Navy from 1942-1946 as a pilot and flight navigator. He was in the US Naval Reserve for 8 years, headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes in IL.

Holly started his college work at Michigan Tech University, before getting his BS in Chemical Engineering
from the University of Michigan in 1949, followed by his Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering at University of Michigan in 1950. He was a Registered Professional Engineer and worked for both Chrysler Corp and General Motors, for twenty five years in the Detroit area, as a chemist and chemical engineer
developing adhesives and sealers for automotive application. Holly also was a mathematics professor
at Lawrence Institute of Technology in Southfield, MI.

In 1975, he moved his family to Glen Ellyn, Illinois
and worked as a senior chemical process engineer and project manager for the Austin Company for 12 years. After he retired in 1987, Holly worked at the Village of Glen Ellyn Golf Links for 21 years.

Holly is survived by his children, Howard (Sandra) Nelson, Carlotta Nelson, and Julianne (Steven) Leonard. He was the loving grandfather of Marc Nelson, Bryan Nelson, Joshua Leonard, Kelly Leonard,
Jenny Leonard, and Megan Leonard, and great-grandfather of Isabella and Jack Nelson.
Holly is also survived by his sister-in law Carlotta (Richard) Hendrian. He has many nieces and nephews.

Holly was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Mary (nee Ziegeler), and his brothers Donald (Erma)
and Howard.

Holly was an avid University of Michigan football fan. He also enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, playing cards, photography, singing in the St Petronille Catholic Church choir in Glen Ellyn, and most of all
spending time with his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 7, 2012 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23815 Power Road, Farmington, MI 48336. The family will receive friends after 9:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, Southfield, MI.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to: American Heart Association (www.heart.org)
or Go Bo Foundation for leukemia (www.gobofoundation.org/).