Nelson Gillespie

Obituary and Funeral Pamphlet
Register of Deeds Office Gove, KS

Nelson Gillespie, youngest child of David Nelson and Cora May (Dalton) Gillespie, was born on July 8, 1928 in rural Collyer. He was reared in the Banner neighborhood and attended grade school in the Loraine school, and high school in Wakeeney.

He was married to Wanda Hockersmith on May 7, 1950 in the Gove Methodist church--the first couple to be married in the new building. To this union three children were born: Alvin Ray, Bonnie Jean and Shelia Gayle. The family lived on a farm southwest of Gove in the Coin neighborhood until 1962, when they moved into Gove.

Mr. Gillespie was active in the Gove County Soil Conservation District as supervisor; in the IOOF lodge of Gove, admitted on April 10, 1964 and attaining the rank of noble grand on Feb. 28, 1966, which he held at the time of his death; in the Boy Scouts as institutional represenative for the local unit, and in the city council as fire chief.

In the past he has been active on the Agricultural Extension board, and the local school board. He was a member of the Banner Methodist church.

Following an extended illness he passed away at Memorial hospital in Lawrence on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 1968 as he was on his way to the KU Medcial Center in Kansas City.

He is survived by his wife and children of the home; two sisters, Mrs. James (Iva) Lynk of Joplin, Mo., and Mrs. Pearl Meier of Quinter; three brothers, Jay of Collyer, Carl of Newton Falls, Ohio, and Earl of Washington, D.C. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Mrs. Leroy (Mabel) Harvey.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the Methodist church in Gove, by Rev. Arlyn Conard, pastor.

Casketbearers were Loren Wilds, Wesley Turner, Lawrence Wilson, Neff Wilds, Russell Steerman and George Kaiser.

Mr. and Mrs. Merton Ikenberry sang, and Mrs. Charles Archer was organist. Burial was at the Gove cemetery, with graveside services by the Gove IOOF. Arrangements were by Don S. Hall Funeral Home, and hymns were "Safe In the Arms of Jesus" and "Beyond the Sunset".