William S. Nelson, 76, of White Pine, MI passed away Thursday, December 8, 2011 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Center in Madison, WI.

William was born at home, in National Mine, MI to Bernard and Elsie Nelson on April 27, 1935. He married Jean T. Voelker on May 12, 1956 in Hancock, MI. William attended Michigan Technological University after graduating from High School in Ishpeming. He studied geology at Michigan Tech for 2 years before being drafted into the U.S. Army. William and his new bride, Jean, moved to Maryland where he was stationed. He served 2 years in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged. William and Jean moved back to the Upper Peninsula. He found work at the White Pine Copper Mine. William started out as a general laborer and advanced to the geology department where he found his niche. William worked for the White Pine Copper Mine until shortly before retirement. He then attended Gogebic Community College, earning an Associate Degree in Business. William enjoyed gardening, canning, cross-words, biking and telling grand stories.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Jean. He is survived by his brothers Kenneth Nelson, David Nelson, and Frederick Nelson and his sisters Marion Sutton, Ruth Merrill, Dorothy Sarasin, and Joanne Montague and their spouses and children; his son Eric Nelson and his wife Suzanne Nelson of Whitefish Bay, WI; his daughters Christine (Nelson) McComb and husband Mark McComb of Beaver Creek, OH; Therese Nelson of White Pine, MI; Patricia Nelson of Hurley, WI; Ann (Nelson) Brown and husband Douglas Brown of Broomfield, CO; and Angela (Nelson) Carlson and husband Brian Carlson of Wallace, MI; grandchildren Emily, Sarah, Benjamin, Simon and Margaret Nelson of Whitefish Bay, WI; Shay McComb of Beaver Creek, OH; Brenna and Ethan Brown of Broomfield, CO; and Wyatt and Garrett Carlson of Wallace, MI.

William died two days after the loss of his beloved wife, Jean T. Nelson. May you both find peace not on this earth.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 for both William S. Nelson and Jean T. Nelson from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. at Cane Funeral Home, 310 N. Steel St, Ontonagon, MI. The service will immediately follow visitation. There will be a luncheon at the AmericInn in Silver City, MI from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. Spring interment and memorial will be determined at a later date.