Lorie Nelson

Lorie Lynn Nelson, 65, of Bethalto, Illinois passed into the arms of her loving Lord at 1:41AM at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO, surrounded by her husband Harry, and her son and daughter Nicholas and Stephanie.

Lorie was a 1979 graduate of Civic Memorial High School. She spent her grade school years until age 10 at Central Grade School and South Roxana Grade School in the Roxana School District. In high school she was a member of the National Honor Society. She was also the piano accompanist for the high school choir, stage band, and swing choir. She continued to play piano throughout her life.

She was a December 1979 graduate of Hickey Secretarial School in St. Louis, Missouri. She was employed first by Millers Mutual in Alton, Illinois. She then worked for the Shell Oil Refinery in Roxana, Illinois for 15 years in various positions until 1995.

She met her future husband Harry in October 1979, and they were married on March 28, 1980. They shared 46 years together; he survives. She is further survived by her son Nicholas of Maryville, Illinois; her daughter and son-in-law Stephanie (Adam) Feldewerth of Troy, Illinois; four grandchildren – Samuel and Owen Nelson, also of Maryville; Penelope and Lenora Feldewerth, also of Troy; bonus daughter-in-love Caleigh Brimm of Collinsville, Illinois, and bonus granddaughters Maya and Mila Brimm, also of Collinsville. She was preceded in death by her infant brother Martin, and a grandbaby Feldewerth.

Lorie loved spending time outdoors caring for her many plants and flower beds. She played her piano almost daily. She loved to sew and quilt, and she spent many hours in her sewing room. She enjoyed decorating her home for every holiday. She further enjoyed baking cakes, pies, and most of all her famous chocolate chip cookies. She also traveled with Harry on the back of their motorcycle to numerous states, national parks, and even a 30-day trip to Alaska and through Canada. Since 2012 when she returned from Alaska, she founded and operated her own businesses: Signature Virtual Assistance, and Nelson Bookkeeping.

However, her greatest enjoyment in life was caring for and loving her family, for whom she was everyone’s Nana.

She will be remembered for her enduring faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ, her love of studying scripture, and most of all her love of family who will miss her smile and gentle spirit.

In celebration of her life, visitation will be from 4pm to 7pm on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Pitchford Funeral Home in Wood River. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the funeral home. Pastor Phil Warren will officiate. Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family with checks payable to Harry Nelson for a charity to be named later.