Eileen J. Nelson

Eileen J. Nelson, 75, 1717 North Broad Street, died at 10:35 p.m. Friday (July 17, 2009) at Galesburg Cottage Hospital surrounded by her loving family.   She was born October 26, 1933 in Newark, New Jersey to Eugene and Rose (Helrung) Burger.  She lived most of her childhood in Alton, IL moving to Galesburg with her family during her high school years graduating from Galesburg High School.   She married Donald (Hap) Nelson on December 20, 1952 in Corpus Christi Church, Galesburg.  He preceded her in death in 1998.  Surviving are their three sons Steven (Joyce); Michael “Mike”, Gary (Shelly) Nelson, and daughter Sue (Larry) Knuth, all of Galesburg.  Their grandchildren are Rob; Carrie; Christie; Brad; Melissa; Jason and Chloe Nelson; and Kristina (Knuth) Pospick; and Michael and Courtney Knuth.  She has two great-grandchildren, Darius and Karley.  Also surviving are her brothers Frances Burger (AK); Donald Burger (WA); Vernon “Mike” Burger (TX), and sister Carole Klapp, Galesburg and nieces and nephews.  Preceding her in death were her parents.    During her early years, she was employed by Brown’s Specialty, Meadow Gold, Howe’s Bakery and St. Joseph Academy.  She presently was employed at Costa Catholic Academy where she served as Food Service Director for the last 37 years.  She also catered for the religious events “The Weekend” (Chrysalis) the last 15 years.  She was an advocate in volunteering numerous events and fund raisers over the years at Costa School.  She also served many years as an election official for Knox County.  She was of Catholic faith and a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church.   She will be sadly missed by her family and many friends who she cherished and loved.  She took great pride in her work, had a passion of cooking and serving her family and generations of serving her “Costa Family”.  She was her grandchildren’s number one fan in their athletic events, loved traveling, gardening, fishing and her St. Louis Cardinals.   Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Corpus Christi Catholic Church, with the Rev. William Miller officiating.  Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday at Watson Funeral Home, where the Rosary will be prayed at 8 p.m.  Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to The Eileen Nelson Memorial to establish commemorative dedication at Costa Catholic Academy in her honor.