Pioneering Roselle firefighter dies at 45
If there's one thing people will remember about Kevin A. Nelson, it's that he made a difference in many young lives.
Every year for the last decade, the Roselle firefighter organized a group of his coworkers to take poor children shopping and buy them lunch during the holidays.
In addition, he helped start the Juvenile Firesetters Program in Roselle that focuses on counseling juvenile arsonists to reform.
He also was instrumental in organizing fundraisers to benefit the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Burn Camp for children with severe fire injuries.
"I've known him since day one. He was a good leader," Roselle firefighter Ted Matuszewski said. "Kevin Nelson was a mentor to all of us. He led us through example."
Nelson, Roselle's first full-time firefighter, died Thursday morning after suffering a heart attack at his Schaumburg home. He was 45.
In February, Nelson celebrated his 15th year anniversary with Roselle. During his tenure, he rose through the ranks of the fire department, acquiring many certifications and eventually becoming a lieutenant.
He's served as the village's fire investigator, firefighting instructor and a fire apparatus engineer. Prior to being hired by Roselle, he was a firefighter in Orland Park for about two years.
His wife, Sue Nelson, described her husband as a dependable family man who had a terrific sense of humor and loved sports -- especially golf.
"He was a really good guy," she said. "Everybody liked him. … He was a very good dad. Very good with kids."
Nelson often volunteered coaching for the Schaumburg Athletic Association, she said.
Every year, he also organized a bowling fundraiser for the Kelsey Nelson Angel Fund named after his daughter. It is designed to help students with financial needs participate in field trips. Eight-year-old Kelsey died during a softball game in 2002. Besides Kelsey, Kevin and Sue had three other children.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Salerno's Rosedale Chapels, 450 W. Lake St., Roselle.
Services will begin 8:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home and proceed to St. Matthew Church, 1001 E. Schaumburg Road in Schaumburg, for a 10 a.m. Mass. Interment will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery in Palatine.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Kevin Nelson Family Education Fund, c/o Harris Bank, 110 E. Irving Park Road, Roselle, IL, 60172.