Bernard W Nelson

Bernard Wayne Nelson was born September 9, 1928, in Benkelman, Nebraska, to Elmer and Lottie (Fulk) Nelson and departed this life on May 17, 2023, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial, Nebraska. He was 94 years old.
Bernard grew up on a farm in Dundy County and graduated from Benkelman High School in 1946. On April 6, 1955, he was united in marriage to Sandra Vibber in Raton, New Mexico. They had one child, Jerry Lee. They resided on the family farm for 66 years. They sold the farm in 2021 and moved to Imperial. Bernard had a love for oil painting and ventriloquism. He painted through his grade school and high school years and then picked it up again in the late 70’s. His specialty was landscape scenery. In the late 80’s he decided to try his hand at ventriloquism. He purchased a course with 30 lessons and went to work learning the art of throwing his voice. He purchased a dummy and named him Willie Wayne Nelson. Over the course of several years, he performed for many organizations and children’s groups. He and Willie were loved by young and old.
Bernard was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Jerry; sister Betty Deyle and her husband Edwin and sister Janice Enfield and her husband Wilbur.
Survivors include Wife, Sandra, of Imperial, Nebraska; daughter-in-law Debra Nelson (Randy) Crist of Ceresco, Nebraska; grandson Zachary (Marian) Nelson of San Diego, California and granddaughter Alyson Nelson of Ceresco, Nebraska; 3 great grandchildren: Serenity Ray, Raelyn Nelson of Ceresco, Nebraska and Ilana Nelson of San Diego, California; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning, May 24, 2023, at 10:30 A.M. (MT) at the United Methodist Church of Imperial, Nebraska, with Randy Hayes officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.

A memorial, in Bernard’s Memory, has been suggested to the Donor’s Choice.

Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.

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