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| Chris Nelson |  |  |  |  |
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| According to his children, he was born Christian CHRISTIANSON, the son of Nels J. CHRISTIANSON. He left home when he was about 14 years old. It is not known what he did or where he lived for the next four years. When he was 18 years old, his mother died, and he joined the Merchant Marines. His shipmates, claiming his name was too hard to say, started calling him Johanson. Not liking that name, he decided to call himself Chris Nelson. According to his daughter Gloria, "he took his father's name, Nels, and added "son" to it, as other Norwegians did." He probably never had it legally changed. It's not known exactly when or how he entered the U.S., but it is thought he may have "jumped ship" in New York. He was never Naturalized and in later years he worried that he might get in trouble because of it. However, his death certificate states that he was a US citizen and had SSN 318-05-0557. The return address on a 1952 letter from his sister Anna was Kuholms Vrien 72, Kristiansund s., Norway. Note that the name of the village was very close to his original last name. His daughter Gloria added, " I think his father got 'his' name from 'his' father's first name of Christian." Some of his occupations in his lifetime were Merchant Marine, Theater Usher, and Restaurant Counterman/Cook/Manager. He worked for many years for the Walter Powers Restaurant in Chicago. He resided 6957 Cormel Avenue on 31 Jan 1922 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. This was when his first daughter was born. His occupation was waiter. He was living between 1924 and 1931 in Staten Island, New York. He resided 443 W. 79th St. in 1960 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. He resided 11303 S. Bell in 1972 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. He died on 17 Oct 1972 in Oak Lawn, Cook County, IL. (342) at Christ Community Hospital. The cause of death was acute myocardial infarction and pulmonary emphysema. He was 79 years old. He was buried on 20 Oct 1972 in Worth Township, Cook Co, IL. (331) He is interred in Mt. Hope Cemetery. A memory from his granddaughter, Janice Pena, in a letter dated 2/20/93: "Thanks for letting me know it was Granpa Nelson's "100th" birthday. I didn't realize that and on every Valentine's Day I say a little prayer for him. I'm glad I got to know a Grandparent a little bit since we never knew Dad's, only Mom's, so when I spent those 2 weeks in Chicago after I graduated, I got to know him some - after all, we're both so close in our birthdays. He was an interesting fellow, very talkative and flirty - he enjoyed taking me to Oldtown. I still have vivid memories of that afternoon we spent together. I'm sure glad I was able to have that time, and I'll always remember it was my first airplane trip - and I flew alone - Sept. '68. Exciting...but scarey!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| They met about 1914 in Chicago when Irene was working for the telephone company and they went together for five years before they married. Irene was a housewife throughout their marriage. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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