Nelson Edward Havel

Nelson Edward Havel was born October 23, 1936 in his grandmother’s house in Cuba, Kansas to Oma and Richard Havel. He died on Sunday May 23rd, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. He graduated from high school in Bellevue, Nebraska in 1955 and joined the United States Air Force where he was trained as a jet engine mechanic. His first assignment was at the Portland Air Force base in Portland, Oregon. He was married to Velma Vertrees from 1958-1975 and to this union three boys were born; David, Raymond, and Edward Havel. After he completed his commitment to the Air Force in 1966, he began a career with Georgia Pacific Corp in the Flight Department and later in the Machinery Construction Division and International Division. He joined the Oregon Air National Guard from 1975-1986 where he was a crew chief on F101 and F4C fighters. From 1980-1990 he worked at Pacific Power and Light in the Purchasing Department where he was a buyer for the power plants and other operations. He then continued his career at Precision Interconnect in the Purchasing Department from 1990 until 2001 when he fully retired. In 1993 he met Lorita Mooney while they were both working at Precision Interconnect and they married in 1995. They made Sherwood, Oregon their home where they still reside today. They spent their golden years together gardening, visiting their many friends, volunteering, and traveling around the world. During his retirement Nelson was a volunteer at Classic Aircraft Museum in Hillsboro where he helped restore various aircrafts including a F104, TF 104, MIG 17 and other aircrafts. He also worked at Evergreen Aviation Museum in the restoration shop and as a docent at the Spruce Goose exhibit. When he was not busy volunteering or travelling you could find him in his garage workshop making beautiful wooden toys and furniture or building model airplanes. He also had a passion for researching family history and genealogy. For many years he was the treasurer of the Czech Society of Oregon and he participated in many missions’ trips to the Czech Republic and Russia where he worked on several churches. Nelson was a member of the First Nazarene Church in Portland, Oregon where he enjoyed singing in the choir and men’s group. He also regularly attended St. Cyril Catholic Church with his wife Lorita and the United Methodist Church in Lake Oswego. Nelson is survived by his best friend and wife Lorita; sons David and Raymond and daughters in-law Happi and Karen, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was proceeded in death by his parents Oma and Richard and son Edward. Final resting place with military honors will be in the Willamette National Cemetery.

Nelson Edward Havel

October 23, 1936 - May 23, 2021