It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved father, Robert Nelson of White Cloud, who passed away on July 23, 2026. He was the loving father of five children (listed below from oldest to youngest) and a proud grandfather and great-grandfather.

Born on October 28, 1966, to the late Robert Nelson and Donna Johnson, Robert was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his lifelong mentor and best friend, Rick Poore. He is survived by his loving companion, Cindy Howe; his siblings: Ken, Tammy, Jeff, Tina, and Greg Nelson; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Robert leaves behind a large and loving family, including his children and their families: Samantha VanDyke (39) and her husband, Joseph VanDyke, and children, Zander and Rochelle, Nicole Nelson (37), alongside her late husband, Nicholas, and children, Nicolas, Mya, Serenity, and Callen, and granddaughter, Freya, Jessica Nelson (35) and her children, Chasity and Terry (Little Bear), Robert Donald Nelson Jr. (Bobby) (33) and his child, Isayah, Marybeth Craven (28) (Stepdaughter) and her husband, Patrick Craven, and children, Leela and Arthur

A seasoned huntsman and fisherman, Robert spent time working in the U.S. Forestry Service and as a tree trimmer. In his younger years, he enjoyed running track. He was a true jack-of-all-trades and a talented builder who took great pride in everything he created. Above all, he was a jokester who loved to laugh and make others smile. He loved all rock music—especially his favorite band, Hollywood Undead—and his favorite song was "Signs" by Tesla.

A memorial benefit luncheon to celebrate Robert's life will be held on Sunday, August 23, 2026, starting at 1:00 PM at the lower side of Mill Pond, near the river in White Cloud, Michigan. To help honor Robert's memory and assist the family in fulfilling his final wishes, donations are urgently needed to cover the costs of his cremation and end-of-life arrangements. Any contribution is profoundly appreciated and will directly help the family lay him to rest.

If you would like to make a donation, contributions can be sent directly via Cash App to $niknak9704. For additional details regarding the luncheon or other ways to assist, please reach out to his daughter Nicole at (231) 250-4656 or via Facebook (Nikki Richardson). The family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love, support, and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.