By WARREN H. CANRIGHT

Chesterton-Porter Rotary turned its regular meeting Tuesday into a going away party for its oldest and long-time member Alfred P. Nelson, who will move on the first of October to Cincinnati, Ohio to live near his son, John.

On the front table was a large balloon with Nelson’s name upon it and a cake decorated with the Rotary gear and a message commemorating his long service to the club.

Caterer Dawn Ruge had prepared a delicious meal of roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy plus other things to go with it.

It is Rotary habit to introduce its guests and in this meeting there was a list of guests who had come special for the day. Some are former Rotarians or who have had a part in Nelson’s life.

Introduced were Anne and Joel Charpentier, Judy and Jim Fant, Terry Hiestand, John Hocker, Lee Lathrop, who came from Holland, MI, Art Malasto, of Valparaiso, a past district governor of Rotary, James M. Read, Chesterton-Porter Rotary’s first president, Rev. Terry Rhine, Nelson’s pastor and Kathy Shaw, R.N. parish nurse of the First United Methodist church who has been helping Nelson.

After a hearty rendition of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” Mark Chamberlain, Rotary president, called on three speakers to talk about Mr. Nelson. Art Malasto told of how just recently he and Chuck Bowman had remembered meeting Nelson and working with him in many county projects before they worked with him through Rotary.

Rev. Rhine told the group that A.P. (Alfred Phillip) was born in Elk Mound, WI, graduated from high school there and eventually earned a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Wisconsin State Teachers at River Falls. He moved to central Indiana where he taught vocational agriculture and science and where he met Marian Chessman. They were married in 1939. In 1942 Nelson completed a Master of Science in Education degree from Purdue. Rev. Rhine mentioned that A.P. also studied at Indiana, Stanford, and George Washington Universities.

From 1944 to 1947 he worked as an agricultural extension agent out of Purdue.

Before coming to Chesterton he was a teacher and principal in schools in Clinton County. Rev. Rhine particularly noted that Mr. Nelson was included in the 1966 edition of Who’s Who in the Methodist Church. During his years in Clinton County he was active in Methodist churches in that area, an activity which he continued after he came to Chesterton.

Warren Canright, Rotary’s only active charter member and second oldest in age to Mr. Nelson, said it was a happy day, but sad for him personally because he will miss sitting across the table from Nelson at Rotary and on Sunday mornings in an adult class at the Methodist church. He said he’ll miss Al’s friendship, their telephone conversations and their activities together. Canright mentioned that Nelson had been the principal in junior high for some of the Rotarians, the boss for others, but they would all remember him for his Rotary work.

Canright recalled that Nelson had been president for two consecutive years and held all other Rotary offices. On a personal note he remembered Nelson turning the secretary’s books over to Canright and how much better shape they were in than when Canright passed the books on to his successor.

Canright said that Nelson was not one to sit back and rest on his laurels in old age. He continued to help at fish fries, selling popcorn and elephant ears until his hearing and eye sight forced him to stop. Mr. Nelson was one of a few people who kept the Duneland Historical society alive after the death of its long-time president Norris Coambs. Mr. Nelson was on the Society board for many years and was corresponding secretary until his eyesight caused him to give up the post. Canright said he knows that the Society is most appreciative of Nelson’s work.

The Nelsons came to Chesterton so he could be assistant high school principal in charge of the seventh and eighth grades. When the Westchester township school system decided to open a junior high school Nelson was given the job of organizing the staff and school for seventh, eighth and ninth grades but before the school opened he learned he would also have the sixth grade for a time. When the system went to the middle school concept he reorganized his school to fit that idea.

Rotary named Nelson a Paul Harris Fellow and he has added money to become a Harris Fellow plus two. He was the club’s first Outstanding Rotarian. He was named Duneland Senior Citizen by the Chamber of Commerce. There is a bridge on the CHS nature trail named for him and a Rotary Scholarship is presented each year in his name.

Nelson closed the festivities by telling a joke, reciting a poem and thanking everyone for the day and the guests for coming. Those present signed a guest book for him and after the formal meeting came forward to offer their personal well wishes.

Martha Bucksbarg, who worked for A.P. at Westchester Middle School, organized the day to honor her former boss.

Posted 9/24/2003