Obituary for Sylvia Clare Nelson

Sylvia Clare Nelson, 89, of Davenport, Iowa, formerly of Lombard, Illinois, died at Harmony Utica Ridge nursing home Monday, September 1, 2025. 

Sylvia was born May 8, 1936, in Oak Park, IL, the daughter of Warner (Clair) and Erma Beggs Holcombe. She graduated from Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois and attended Carroll College in Waukesha, WI for several years before marrying Donald K. Nelson in 1957. She worked in accounts payable in Chicago and Champaign, IL before moving to Milwaukee where her two children were born. She and her family settled into a new house in Lombard, IL in 1963 where they lived until moving to Davenport, IA after Don was transferred to work at the Rock Island Arsenal. Sylvia was very active throughout high school, college and her adult years with theatre, music and church activities. She played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz in Glen Ellyn, IL and later created a 1920’s musical evening as a church fundraiser while still living in Lombard. In Davenport, she was the manager of Misses Dresses at Yonkers, was active in the choral group Sweet Adelines, and was a soloist, youth choir director and choir member at Christ United Methodist Church. 

She is survived by her son and daughter, David (Ardyth) of Omaha, NE and Susi Rachouh of Cliffside Park, NJ, four grandchildren, Austin, Natalee Coughlin (Brendan), Amira and Nora and two great-grandchildren, Autumn and Landon. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Priscilla (Perri) Earnest and brother Howard Holcombe. 

Services: Saturday, October 11 at 11am at Christ Church, 2330 W 41st St, Davenport.

Donations can be made to Christ Church or Friends of Vanderveer