Arlan Prescott Nelson, age 88, of Berrien Springs, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, MI, after a short illness.
He was preceded in death by his father, Prescott John Nelson, and his mother Mildred Vera Yaeger Nelson, his baby brother who died in infancy, and his brother-in-law Ken Stubbs, Sharen’s husband. He is survived by his brother, Perry Dean Nelson (Sue) of Berrien Springs, MI, and his two sisters, Sharen Nelson Stubbs of Holland, MI, and Clara Lou Nelson Johns (Jerry) from Ringgold, GA.
Arlan never married and lived with his parents on their apple farm on Shawnee Road. He was privileged to be an uncle to 5 nieces and 3 nephews, plus 11 great-nieces and nephews.
Arlan was born in Nicollet, Minnesota, on September 20, 1935. Due to nerve damage during the birthing process, Arlan was born deaf and could not benefit from a hearing device. When he was 4 or 5 years old, Arlan attended a special school for the deaf in Kalamazoo, MI, where he was taught the ABC’s, how to lip read well enough to communicate with the family and teachers, and how to read. After 2 years he returned to Berrien Springs, MI, and was a student on the campus of Emmanuel Missionary College, (now Andrews University) attending Elementary School, the Academy, and 2 years of College.
When he finished those 2 years of college, he began to work as a line-o-type operator setting type for the Emmanuel Missionary College Press. After working there a short time, he was offered a position doing the same work for a printing company in Benton Harbor, MI, which he did for many years until the company relocated to another state. Arlan then worked at the Berrien Book Bindery at Andrews University, driving himself back and forth to work. When the bindery closed, Arlan worked with his brother Perry on their farm. Perry was Arlan’s guardian for his last 36 years.
He had numerous hobbies and interests which kept him occupied, such as weather tracking, photography, stamp collecting, doing 1,000-piece puzzles, and gardening of flowers and vegetables.
He also enjoyed playing games with the family.
Arlan was a long-time, faithful member of the Seventh-day Adventist Pioneer Memorial Church. A private service will be held at the PM church.
Interment will be at the Rose Hill Cemetery beside his parents.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Allred Funeral Home in Berrien Springs. www.AllredFuneralHome.com
Posted On: Monday, December 11, 2023 4:24 PM
