Richard P. Nelson

Nelson Dr. Richard P., 54, of 1010 Highwood Street, Iowa City, died Wednesday, December 12, 2001, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids from injuries received earlier in the day. Dr. Nelson was born December 28, 1946, in Bloomington, Illinois, the son of Edward and Dorothy (Berquist) Nelson. He graduated from Northwestern University and undertook his fellowship at Harvard, in developmental pediatrics, serving at Boston's Children's Hospital. In 1978, he was named MN Director of Services for Children with Handicaps. In 1982, he became the Director of the Developmental Disabilities program at Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Nelson was appointed to the faculty of pediatrics at the University of Iowa in 1987 and then became the Director of the Child Health Specialty Clinics program. He was named Executive Dean at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1994. Dr. Nelson served as a consultant to several federal and national agencies related to children's health policies. He was an active member at Zion Lutheran Church and helped develop the social statement on abortion for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. He was a great supporter of the arts, enjoyed spending time with family and being a grandfather. Richard is survived by his wife, Phyllis of Iowa City; two daughters, Elyse Winger and her husband Stewart of Cairo, Egypt and Emily Hansen and her husband Kevin of Iowa City; one granddaughter, Catherine Grace Winger; two brothers, David Nelson and his wife, Linda of Indianapolis, Indiana and Donald Nelson of Sebastian, Florida; two sisters, Kathy Johnson of Sydney, Australia and Deborah Anderson of Maine. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services held Dec. 17 at Zion L.C., Lensing Funeral Home, Iowa City.

Published on December 23, 2001