Jamieson A. “Rocky” Nelson

Merlin A. “Rocky” Nelson, Sr., 80, of Hampton, Illinois, died unexpectedly Thursday, October 27, 2011, in Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, Silvis, Illinois.

Services are 10:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Celebration of Life Chapel at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline. Visitation is 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, with a Time of Sharing at 6:30. Burial is in Hampton Township Cemetery, where the Moline American Legion Post #246 will present military honors. Memorials may be made to the Hampton Historical Society.

Merlin Alfred Nelson was born April 10, 1931, in Spring Valley, Illinois, the son of Martin and Anna (Anderson) Nelson. He attended a one-room school house for eight years and then graduated from Tonica High School in 1949. He studied chemistry, math, and education from Illinois State University and received his Master’s Degree in counseling from the University of Iowa.

While attending Illinois State, Rocky met Mary Jane McNeal, whom he married on June 10, 1956, in Hampton. He was a math and science teacher at Orion High School for two years and then taught and was a counselor at United Township High School for 30 years, retiring in 1988. He also tutored math at Sylvan Learning Center for 14 years, and taught summer school at UTHS and Upward Bound for Marycrest College.

Rocky was a member of Blackhawk Unit Retired Teachers, Ride the River committee, Quad City Heritage League, past-president of the Hampton Historical Society, Civil War Round Table, associate member of the Republican Women of Rock Island County, past-president of the Hampton School Board, and founder and former vice-president of the United Township Credit Union. He was active in the East Moline Little League for many years and was an avid White Sox fan.

Rocky is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Jane; children, Melinda Nelson Erickson and her husband Rev. Myron Erickson of Chicago, Illinois, Marc Nelson of Chicago, Martha Nelson and her husband David Aaron of Ozone Park, New York, and Merlin Nelson, Jr. of East Moline; granddaughters, Linley Maeve Erickson and Victoria Ellen Nelson; and three nieces. He was preceded in death by a brother, Albert Nelson.

The family invites you to share stories and condolences and light a candle in Rocky?s memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.