David C. Nelson

The Rev'd Dr. David C. Nelson was born in Chicago and grew up in the same house he still lives in near Portage Park with his dog, Satchel. The house originally belonged to his maternal grandparents and was built around 1908 before Irving Park Road was paved any further west than Cicero Avenue. The house has its charms but there is a certain Green Acres quality to it as well.

Pastor Nelson attended O. A. Thorp grammar school where he was such a class clown that in sixth grade his mother earned a star for attendance. He went on to Luther High School North where he played clarinet in the band and wrote a column for the school newspaper. In 1976 he graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle with a B.A. in Communications and attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1981 and a Master of Theological Studies degree in 1983. In 1992 Dave was in the first graduating class of the Doctor of Ministry program in preaching at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.

He is currently tha Pastor of Saint John's Lutheran Church in Lincolnwood, the Headmaster of Park View Lutheran Church in Chicago and since this spring the proud owner of William Randolph Hearses a service that offers "Classic Cars for a Classy Funeral."

Dave is an avid baseball and hockey fan, but also a subscriber to the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He is also a swimmer.