Bernard Wayne Nelson

Bernard Wayne Nelson was born Sept. 9, 1928, in the Lutz Precinct of Dundy County, Nebraska, to Elmer and Lottie (Fulk) Nelson and departed this life on May 17, 2023, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial, Nebraska. He was 94 years old.
Bernard grew up on a farm in Dundy County and graduated from Benkelman High School in 1946. On April 6, 1955 he was united in marriage to Sandra Vibber in Raton, New Mexico. They had one child, Jerry Lee. They resided on the family farm for 66 years. They sold the farm in 2021 and moved to Imperial.
Bernard had a love for oil painting and ventriloquism. He painted through his grade school and high school years and then picked it up again in the late 70’s. His specialty was landscape scenery. In the late 80’s he decided to try his hand at ventriloquism. He purchased a course with 30 lessons and went to work learning the art of throwing his voice. He purchased a dummy and named him Willie Wayne Nelson. Over the course of several years, he performed for many organizations and children’s groups. He and Willie were loved by young and old.
Bernard was preceded in death by his parents; his son Jerry; sister Betty Deyle and her husband Edwin and sister Janice Enfield and her husband Wilbur.
Survivors include wife Sandra of Imperial; daughter-in-law Debra Nelson (Randy) Crist of Ceresco; grandson Zachary (Marian) Nelson of San Diego, California and granddaughter Alyson Nelson of Ceresco, Nebraska; three great-grandchildren Serenity Ray, Raelyn Nelson of Ceresco and Ilana Nelson of San Diego, California; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Imperial with Randy Hayes officiating. Inurnment followed at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Memorial, in Bernard’s memory, has been suggested to the Donor’s Choice.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.
Liewer Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.