Frederick William Nelson

Frederick William Nelson, age 76, of Ferryville, Wisconsin and formerly of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on Friday, March 28th, 2025. He was born on October 28th, 1948, in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin to the late William and Martha (Steinerson) Nelson. Fred graduated from Southern Door High School in 1966. He attended U.W. Madison where he received Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees in agricultural engineering. During the Vietnam Conflict, he enlisted in the Navy where he served as an officer on the USS Spiegel Grove and was later stationed on the naval base, Diego Garcia. Fred was employed at John Deere for 40 years, making significant contributions in electronics and software design for tractors and other Deere equipment. From 1993 until 2020 he played a pivotal role in the development of Deere’s GPS receiver and many subsequent technologies that form the foundation of precision farming today.

As a leader, mentor, and facilitator, Fred drove innovation for key project teams, sharing his extensive development skills within his organization and across the broader company. A distinguished inventor, he held 38 U.S. Patents and 215 Patents worldwide. Fred retired with the title of senior principal engineer and was named a John Deere Fellow, the highest level of recognition for his expertise, leadership, and outstanding reputation. Fred’s legacy will endure through the many engineers he mentored and innovations that continue to transform agriculture around the world. Fred was extremely generous to family and friends throughout his life and supported multiple charities.

Survivors include his brother, John (Marlene) Nelson; special friends Tim and Rita Wilcox; and many friends and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and William, and infant brother.

A Funeral Service for Fred will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in Viroqua. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Fred will be laid to rest at the Viroqua Cemetery. Online Condolences may be expressed at www.vossfh.com.

Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home & Crematory is serving Fred's family.

123 W. Decker St.

Viroqua, WI 54665

608-637-2100