Sylvia Madeline Nelson

Sylvia Madeline Nelson, 88, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on September 10, 2024, a few hours shy of her 59th wedding anniversary. She was born in Milwaukee, WI to the late Ernst and Magdalen (Heinrich) Tamm, Sr. and graduated from Rufus King High School.

She met her future husband, James Raymond Nelson, at the Wisconsin Telephone Company in Milwaukee, where they worked and sang in the Wisconsin Telephone Chorus. She married Jim on September 11, 1965, moved to Madison, WI and together they raised two beautiful children, Deanna Marie and Ross Raymond. Sylvia later worked at WPS and Rural Insurance companies as a claims adjuster before her retirement, but her most coveted job was caring for her children and grandchildren.

Sylvia was one of a kind. It was almost impossible to outplay her in a game of Scrabble or Upwords. She enjoyed baking and crafts, including crocheting, painting, and embroidery, and shared that love with her grandchildren. Sylvia also loved the outdoors. From gardening to fishing, a beautiful day with sunshine was her favorite kind. The two most important things in her life were her New Apostolic faith and her beloved family. She spent many years hosting Sunday dinners for family, friends, traveling ministers and college students far from home. She loved to get together with her siblings and rarely missed any of her grandchildren’s activities, from sporting events to ballet recitals and music concerts.

Those left to remember her include her husband Jim, daughter Deanna (Jeff) Nelson Weber, son Ross (Dawn) Nelson and her grandchildren Samuel, Lily and Grace Weber and Hope (Costa), Zoe and Jade Nelson. She is further survived by her loving siblings Dolores Schoolman, Kathy (Paul) Downing, Ernst (Joyce) Tamm Jr. and Bob (Jackie) Tamm, sister-in-law Barbara “Bunny” (Robert “Skip”) Scudder, brother-in-law Randy Nelson and many cherished nieces, nephews, other relatives and precious friends.

In addition to her parents, Sylvia was preceded in death by her sister Madeline (Heinz) Bruhn, sisters-in-law Joanne (Fred) Lehmann and Nancy Nelson, brothers-in-law Albert Schoolman and George Geist and Jim’s parents Raymond and Helen Nelson.

Sylvia’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Julie Chang, Beth Chier Bright, RN, and the many staff at UW Hospital who supported her cancer journey over the past nine years.

SERVICES: Sylvia’s family invites relatives and friends to the New Apostolic Church, 11722 W. Florist Ave, Milwaukee, on Saturday, September 28th. Visitation begins at 10:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 Noon with Rev. Jon Taylor presiding.

All are invited to a luncheon at the church immediately following the service.

For those not able to attend in person, please register at the following link to view a livestream or copy of the service: https://www.youtube.com/live/HPaix3Lx4wc

Please share your memories at www.zacherlfuneralhome.com.