In Memory of William (Bill) Nelson
Donation protected
William Henry Nelson was born on March 12, 1966; the third son born to Peter and Marianne Nelson. With older brother's Peter and John Dreux, Billy would later be joined by his younger brother Jimmy 13 months later, his sister, Mary Elizabeth and youngest brother Timothy.
Billy was a handsome, blond haired, blue-eyed cherub, full of life! Not long after he turned 4, in the spring of 1970… Peter, Marianne and the four Nelson boys moved from their hometown of Philadelphia and settled in Lathrup Village, Michigan. The Nelson family was quickly embraced by the St. Bede Catholic Parish, where Billy attended school for 8 years and excelled at a variety of sports.
Billy, "a.k.a. the Goat" as he was often referred to by family and friends, who was the only Nelson to inherit the 'height gene,' loved basketball most of all, playing in his high school days at Brother Rice and even a walk-on tryout in college.
From very early on, Billy's contagious personality touched the lives of many. His enterprising nature led him to Birmingham County Club, where he worked for many years, developing a passion for golf and a lasting network of friendships. It was during his days working at BCC, where he learned the values of hard work, kindness, ambition and quick wit... traits that he carry on throughout his life!
After graduating from St. Bede, Bill followed in his brothers footsteps and became a Brother Rice Warrior (1981-1984). Billy loved Brother Rice from the moment he set his size 14" foot on campus, where he developed more friendships that he held dear until his final day. You see Billy just had a way of attracting people to him, with his vivacious personality, beautiful smile and a genuine love of life! It was his many friends at Brother Rice that surrounded Bill as a sophomore, when he lost his Father (Peter Nelson), who died suddenly on Thursday, May 6, 1982. Many of those same friends now celebrate Billy's life, which ended in a similar way, without warning 35 years and one week after his Father's death.
After graduating from Brother Rice in 1984, Billy was excited about reconnecting to his early childhood roots and attending St. Joseph University in Philadelphia. This was really special to Bill, not only because he was born in Philly, but also because his Father (Peter) and Step-Father, Jack McBrearty both attended St. Joseph's! He loved being a St. Joe's Hawk and relished the extra special time spent with his McGarvey and Nelson relatives in the Philadelphia area.
Upon graduation he returned home to Michigan and started working in commercial real estate at McCoppin & Koss, ironically two men that had worked for his Father as they began their careers. It was just shortly after returning Michigan that he would meet the love of his life, Julia MacKenzie. Bill and Julie made such a perfect couple, with their beautiful blond hair, blue eyes and wonderful smiles. After dating for several years, Bill and Julie married in November of 1996 at St. Hugo of the Hills Chapel. They would be blessed with their first beautiful son on June 13th, 1998. Christopher James Nelson, or C.J. as he is known, would become the first boy grandchild for Jack and Marianne McBrearty and Billy was profoundly changed with his newborn son! Billy Jr., would arrive two years later and then they were blessed with twins, Timmy and Jack. Bill was so proud of his family and devoted himself to every aspect of their lives; criss-crossing the state and the country to attend every event and witness every special moment. He remained actively involved in the boys school, becoming a fixture in the St. Hugo and Brother Rice community!
Bill died much too soon on May 13th, 2017 and just like his Father 35 years before him, the St. Bede, St. Hugo, Brother Rice and St. Joseph communities he loved so much, all mourn his loss.
Bill is survived by his adoring wife Julia, his four sons, C.J., Billy, Timothy and Jack. He is also survived by his devoted Mother, Marianne McBrearty, Jack McBrearty, brothers, Peter, Dreux, Jim and Tim Nelson, John McBrearty and sisters, Mary Elizabeth (MB) Nelson Zelasko, Kathleen McBrearty Wild, Susan McBrearty Tomba. He is also survived by in-laws, John and Stephanie MacKenzie, John MacKenzie, Steve Tomba, Ian Wild, Kay McBrearty, Terena Nelson, Suzanne Nelson and 14 beautiful nieces and nephews: Alexandra (Steve Beltowski), Abby, Libby, Ryan, Charlie, Luke, Bridget, Claire, Brendan, Ava, Nicholas, Josephine, Katie and Jack and grandniece Brienne.
The Nelson/McBrearty and MacKenzie family is heartbroken over the loss of our beloved Billy; loving son, brother, husband, father and friend! We cherish his life and countless memories he left behind, taking solace in the knowledge of our Faith that his earthly Father, Peter Nelson greeted him at the gates of Heaven, as his son Billy entered our Lord's Kingdom! May God Bless and keep you always dearest William Henry. Our family will never be the same without our Bill here on earth, but you may rest now in peace and will see you again one day in Heaven!
Family will receive friends Wednesday 2-9 PM with Scripture service and sharing of memories at 7 PM at A.J. Desmond & Sons, 2600 Crooks Rd, (between Maple and Big Beaver), [phone redacted]. Funeral Mass Thursday 11:00 a.m. at St. Hugo of the Hills Church, 2215 Opdyke Rd., Bloomfield Hills. Visitation at the church begins at 10:00 a.m.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, FAMILY REQUESTS THAT DONATIONS BE MADE PAYABLE TO: MICHIGAN 529 PLAN
Check memo: Nelson family educational plan
c/o 2600 Crooks Rd, Troy, MI 48084
Billy was a handsome, blond haired, blue-eyed cherub, full of life! Not long after he turned 4, in the spring of 1970… Peter, Marianne and the four Nelson boys moved from their hometown of Philadelphia and settled in Lathrup Village, Michigan. The Nelson family was quickly embraced by the St. Bede Catholic Parish, where Billy attended school for 8 years and excelled at a variety of sports.
Billy, "a.k.a. the Goat" as he was often referred to by family and friends, who was the only Nelson to inherit the 'height gene,' loved basketball most of all, playing in his high school days at Brother Rice and even a walk-on tryout in college.
From very early on, Billy's contagious personality touched the lives of many. His enterprising nature led him to Birmingham County Club, where he worked for many years, developing a passion for golf and a lasting network of friendships. It was during his days working at BCC, where he learned the values of hard work, kindness, ambition and quick wit... traits that he carry on throughout his life!
After graduating from St. Bede, Bill followed in his brothers footsteps and became a Brother Rice Warrior (1981-1984). Billy loved Brother Rice from the moment he set his size 14" foot on campus, where he developed more friendships that he held dear until his final day. You see Billy just had a way of attracting people to him, with his vivacious personality, beautiful smile and a genuine love of life! It was his many friends at Brother Rice that surrounded Bill as a sophomore, when he lost his Father (Peter Nelson), who died suddenly on Thursday, May 6, 1982. Many of those same friends now celebrate Billy's life, which ended in a similar way, without warning 35 years and one week after his Father's death.
After graduating from Brother Rice in 1984, Billy was excited about reconnecting to his early childhood roots and attending St. Joseph University in Philadelphia. This was really special to Bill, not only because he was born in Philly, but also because his Father (Peter) and Step-Father, Jack McBrearty both attended St. Joseph's! He loved being a St. Joe's Hawk and relished the extra special time spent with his McGarvey and Nelson relatives in the Philadelphia area.
Upon graduation he returned home to Michigan and started working in commercial real estate at McCoppin & Koss, ironically two men that had worked for his Father as they began their careers. It was just shortly after returning Michigan that he would meet the love of his life, Julia MacKenzie. Bill and Julie made such a perfect couple, with their beautiful blond hair, blue eyes and wonderful smiles. After dating for several years, Bill and Julie married in November of 1996 at St. Hugo of the Hills Chapel. They would be blessed with their first beautiful son on June 13th, 1998. Christopher James Nelson, or C.J. as he is known, would become the first boy grandchild for Jack and Marianne McBrearty and Billy was profoundly changed with his newborn son! Billy Jr., would arrive two years later and then they were blessed with twins, Timmy and Jack. Bill was so proud of his family and devoted himself to every aspect of their lives; criss-crossing the state and the country to attend every event and witness every special moment. He remained actively involved in the boys school, becoming a fixture in the St. Hugo and Brother Rice community!
Bill died much too soon on May 13th, 2017 and just like his Father 35 years before him, the St. Bede, St. Hugo, Brother Rice and St. Joseph communities he loved so much, all mourn his loss.
Bill is survived by his adoring wife Julia, his four sons, C.J., Billy, Timothy and Jack. He is also survived by his devoted Mother, Marianne McBrearty, Jack McBrearty, brothers, Peter, Dreux, Jim and Tim Nelson, John McBrearty and sisters, Mary Elizabeth (MB) Nelson Zelasko, Kathleen McBrearty Wild, Susan McBrearty Tomba. He is also survived by in-laws, John and Stephanie MacKenzie, John MacKenzie, Steve Tomba, Ian Wild, Kay McBrearty, Terena Nelson, Suzanne Nelson and 14 beautiful nieces and nephews: Alexandra (Steve Beltowski), Abby, Libby, Ryan, Charlie, Luke, Bridget, Claire, Brendan, Ava, Nicholas, Josephine, Katie and Jack and grandniece Brienne.
The Nelson/McBrearty and MacKenzie family is heartbroken over the loss of our beloved Billy; loving son, brother, husband, father and friend! We cherish his life and countless memories he left behind, taking solace in the knowledge of our Faith that his earthly Father, Peter Nelson greeted him at the gates of Heaven, as his son Billy entered our Lord's Kingdom! May God Bless and keep you always dearest William Henry. Our family will never be the same without our Bill here on earth, but you may rest now in peace and will see you again one day in Heaven!
Family will receive friends Wednesday 2-9 PM with Scripture service and sharing of memories at 7 PM at A.J. Desmond & Sons, 2600 Crooks Rd, (between Maple and Big Beaver), [phone redacted]. Funeral Mass Thursday 11:00 a.m. at St. Hugo of the Hills Church, 2215 Opdyke Rd., Bloomfield Hills. Visitation at the church begins at 10:00 a.m.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, FAMILY REQUESTS THAT DONATIONS BE MADE PAYABLE TO: MICHIGAN 529 PLAN
Check memo: Nelson family educational plan
c/o 2600 Crooks Rd, Troy, MI 48084
Organizer and beneficiary
Tim Nelson
Organizer
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Julia Nelson
Beneficiary