Foundation Announces John & Rachel Nelson Family Community Fund

The Community Foundation is honored to announce the creation of the John & Rachel Nelson Family Community Fund. The fund exists to support local charitable organizations, projects and initiatives through the Foundation’s yearly grant cycles. John and Rachel created the fund with a desire to provide grants for the good of the community, as they are passionate about investing in Huntington County.  

“We are incredibly grateful for John & Rachel’s dedication to our community and their commitment to creating lasting impact through this endowment,” stated Matt Ditzler, Community Foundation Executive Director. “John’s leadership on our Board of Directors has been invaluable, and we are honored to be a steward of the Nelson legacy in Huntington County through this new fund.” 

John is the son of Charles and Jean Nelson, and was born in Waukegan, Illinois before moving to Huntington in 1978. Rachel was born and raised in the Andrews area and is the daughter of Robert and Karen Kohr. Both John and Rachel attended Huntington County Community Schools, graduating from Huntington North High School in 1988. John graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Civil Engineering, and Rachel graduated with a degree from Ball State University in Elementary Education.  

_{Left Photo: Rachel & her late father, Robert Kohr Middle Photo: John & Rachel’s wedding Right Photo: John’s father, Charles Nelson, alongside grandson, Jack Nelson}

John and Rachel were married in 1992 following John’s memorable proposal to Rachel that took place on the top step of Hovde Hall at Purdue University in 1991. They resided in Indianapolis before eventually moving back to their hometown of Huntington in 1999. Their family began to grow with the additions of their son, Tyler (1996), their daughter, Hannah (1999), and their son, Jack (2003), who made their family whole. 

As a licensed Professional Engineer, John worked as a Project Manager at DLZ for two separate stints. His most prominent projects included his role as Project Manager on the Towpath Trails in Fort Wayne and the Erie Rail Trails in Huntington, along with the Martin Luther King Bridge over the St. Mary’s River in Fort Wayne. In between his time with DLZ, John worked for American Specialty in Roanoke as a Risk Manager and traveled the country working with Sports and Entertainment clients. John now oversees the Roanoke branch of Edward Jones and plans to spend the remainder of his working career helping clients as a Financial Advisor.  

Rachel started her teaching career at New Palestine Elementary School and Central Catholic in Indianapolis. She then stayed home to invest in her children’s lives while also tutoring children, which inspired her to launch a state-licensed daycare in Huntington alongside her cousin in the mid-2000’s. Following their son, Jack’s, entrance into grade school, Rachel began teaching at Huntington Catholic, where she received the “Light of Learning” award twice. She eventually earned her Master’s Degree in Theology from Notre Dame, becoming the first person on her side of the family to achieve a Master’s Degree. Rachel later transferred to St. John the Baptist School in Fort Wayne in the Fall of 2023 where she plans to finish her career.  

John has served as an active volunteer for several organizations including Roanoke Youth Sports, Roanoke Kiwanis, Huntington Rotary, Roanoke Beautification Foundation, Roanoke Chamber of Commerce and the Roanoke Fall Festival. John has also served on a number of boards including the Parkview Huntington Foundation, the Roanoke Beautification Foundation, the Parkview Huntington Board of Directors and the Community Foundation of Huntington County Board of Directors, where he served as board president in 2023 and 2024. Because of his selfless dedication, John was recognized as “Volunteer of the Year” by the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce in the early 2000’s and was named a “Chief of the Flint Springs Tribe” for Huntington County in 2023.  

Rachel served in Sigma Phi Gamma in the early 2000’s, as well as on the Bishop Luers High School Board. She eventually steered her focus on all things related to her passion for education and church involvement. Rachel has been devoted to teaching CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) for many years and has helped countless students receive the sacraments of First Communion and Reconciliation as a teacher of second grade 

“We are eager to help our hometown in our own little way with an entity that we trust and respect,” stated John Nelson. “We appreciate the opportunities we were given as we grew up, raised a family and worked in Huntington County–now we want to give back in some way.” 

Those interested in contributing to the John & Rachel Nelson Family Community Fund can donate here. With numerous fund options available, those considering creating a fund are invited to contact the Community Foundation.