Peter Nelson Finds Peace

With a sad heart I must be the bearer of the unfortunate news that Peter Nelson passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025, due to complications from diabetes.  Pete and I were close friends going all the way back to Richards Grade School.  Peter lived directly behind the school playground, so his house was an after school hangout where we did our homework...well, actually we wasted time watching “The Three Stooges”, making prank calls and trying to make our blue jeans look used and old, all while indulging in soda and potato chips. His house was on Lake Drive and during high school, was the next stop after Fitzgerald’s Pharmacy.

After Pete got his drivers license he drove his mom’s 1954 gray Ford station wagon but that wasn’t very cool so he bought a motorcycle.  His first was a full-size Harley Davidson, probably early 1950s vintage.  It was almost too heavy for Pete to handle but he stuck with it and became a proficient rider.  In the 1960’s he bought a Harley Sportster.  I also had a Sportster and at night we would ride up and down Wisconsin Avenue stopping at the museum where the Harley riders hung out.  We would ride back and forth on the lakefront, stopping at the various underwater submarine racing sites, trying to look cool. 

In 1966, Pete married Dolores Gaertig, who was three years his younger. She had three brothers Howie, Roger, and Milton and a sister, Joyce.  Dolores tells the story that Pete went over to their house looking for Roger and Dolores answered the door.  She was the only one home, so Pete asked her if she wanted to go for a motorcycle ride, and that’s how they met.  Being married in 1966 translates to 59 years of marriage, which is quite an accomplishment. They have two children, Tim and Wendy, and grandchildren Tiernan, Galen, and Brenden.     

After high school, Pete worked at Harley Davidson Motor Company and was employed there about seven years.  He used to claim he was a “multi-level equipment distribution manager”.  Actually, he ran the parts elevator (Pete had a subtle and clever sense of humor).  To his credit, Pete was very observant and learned the motorcycle parts business well enough to enable him to start his own business in after-market foreign motorcycle parts.  It was a risky move and very unlike the conservative friend I knew.  Original Harley parts became very expensive in the 1960’s and his business took off big time and made a comfortable living for the family. 

The last time I saw Pete was at our 50^th WFB class reunion.  Pete was not a real public person and I had to talk him in to coming. Once there he really enjoyed the event.  Pete was sort of an iconic rebel figure in high school but in real life I knew him to be considerate and compassionate, and a puppy dog at heart.  He was the sort of friend that was always loyal, trustworthy and unconditionally supportive. Over the years, we lived in different continents, but regularly kept in touch via occasional visits, letters and later by email. 

Pete loved dogs and ended up having several in his lifetime.  The last was a Shih Tzu dog that showed up on their front doorstep.  They tried to find the owner without success, so took it in.  Pete loved that dog so much that even though it suffered from terminal maladies, he refused to put it to sleep.  

Pete and Dolores lived in the same house in Mequon for their entire marriage.  He had a number of health issues and was unable to ride in his later years.  Fortunately, their kids and grandkids live nearby and have helped both Dolores and Pete manage everything for the past few years. 

A funeral is not planned although the family expects to have a private memorial service. 

David Stearns

7/30/2025