June 12, 1946 – January 22, 2026
Dr. Daniel B. Nelson was born in Urbana ,IL on June 12, 1946 as the youngest of five children to Rev. Elmer A. Nelson and Mabel Mae (Jones) Nelson in Rantoul, IL. When in high school, he and his family moved from Rantoul to Park Ridge, IL where he graduated from Maine East High School. He later attended Wartburg College, a small Lutheran school in Waverly, IA where his parents and all of his older siblings had also attended. Although his two brothers and one brother-in-law followed Elmer’s footsteps into the ministry, Dan was instead called to do the Lord’s work through a career in medicine. Therefore, he enrolled at the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine in Chicago, which later became the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. It was there that he met Elizabeth Cuda, a pharmacy student who “allegedly” needed to borrow a histology book. Upon graduation in 1972, he went on to complete his internship in Chicago before completing residency in Internal Medicine in Memphis, TN. He subsequently completed fellowship training in Cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX where he trained under some of the world’s renowned cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons.
Dan joined Carle Clinic in Urbana, IL as a new cardiologist in 1977, with a career spanning three decades. Over time, he underwent additional training to become one of the first interventional cardiologists in central Illinois, which led to performing the first cardiac catheterization and angioplasty in central Illinois. He went on to become division head for Cardiology for ten years, during which time he was instrumental in the formation of the Carle Heart Center and tripled the number of heart specialists providing care at Carle. His leadership in the organization was recognized in the mural painted within the Carle Forum.
He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Elizabeth, and their three children – Christopher (Jennifer) Nelson of Monticello, Illinois; Noelle Meyer of Mahomet, Illinois; and Megan (Aaron) Traeger of Normal, Illinois – all of whom he inspired to enter various medical fields. They were witness to the empathic care that Dan provided and the respect that he gave to and received from his patients and colleagues. In addition, he is survived by his sisters Linda (Jan) Horne and Leah (Walt) Haussmann, multiple nieces and nephews, and seven grandchildren – Jack and Lilly Meyer; Avery, Amelia, and Abby Traeger; and Andrew and Margaret Nelson. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Rev. David (Patricia) Nelson, brother Rev. Duane (Marlys) Nelson, and brother-in-law Rev. Jan Horne.
Among his many interests were traveling with his wife; golfing throughout central Illinois with “The Grasshoppers,” around the country at various resorts, and even once in Italy; spending time with a wide network of friends, neighbors, classmates, and colleagues with whom they enjoyed going to dinners, attending concerts, and hosting events in their home; gathering for weekly Bible study breakfasts for many years; and cheering on the beloved Fighting Illini, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago Bears.
However, Dan’s greatest joys were his grandchildren. He attended their countless sporting events, concerts, and theatrical performances. They always knew that their best friend and biggest fan was in the audience, snacking on a bag of popcorn, and ready to take them out to celebrate their accomplishments afterwards.
All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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