Philip Todd Nelson

Philip Todd Nelson, 59, of rural Windom, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at home on the farm with his wife, Susan, by his side. He was a farmer and co-founder/co-owner of Nelson Ag Seeds. 

Philip was born on March 22, 1962, in McPherson, Kansas, the son of Verlyn L. and Wanda L. (Swick) Nelson. He graduated from Little River High School in 1980. 

On April 20, 1991, Philip married Jalane Marie Merrill at the Andover Lutheran Church, Windom, Kansas. This union was blessed with three sons, Justin, Jonah, and Jacob. Jalane preceded Philip in death on May 28, 2010. 

On January 10, 2015, Philip was united in marriage to Susan Christine Rush at New Hope Evangelical Church, McPherson, Kansas. With this union, Philip gained five more children, Amanda, Andrew, Aaron, Adam, and Abigail. 

Upon graduation of high school Philip bought a grain truck and went to work hauling grain to the port of Catoosa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It wasn’t long into this entrepreneurial adventure that he realized he couldn’t make a living hauling grain and founded Nelson Tank Service, going to work in the oil field business. At age forty, Philip became engaged full time in farming.

After several years of singleness for both Philip and Susan, a mutual friend would work for two years trying to get both convinced that they needed to consent to a “blind date.” And as they say, the rest is history! Philip and his wife worked side by side engaged in their farming operation and in the spring of 2017, together they launched their agricultural seed business venture, Nelson Ag Seeds. As with farming, Philip and Susan would work their seed business side by side until Philip’s passing. 

After seven years of living with his illness, Philip went onto hospice care December 17, 2021, and succumbed to prostate cancer Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at 8:35 a.m., at home on the farm.

Survivors include: his loving wife, Susan of the home; eight children, Justin (Kayley) Nelson of Hesston, KS, Jonah Nelson of Fort Sill, OK, Jacob Nelson of Apopka, FL, Amanda George of McPherson, KS, Andrew (Lacey) Rush of McPherson, KS, Aaron (Elise) Rush of Wichita, KS, Adam (Rose) Rush of Goessel, KS, and Abigail Rush of McPherson, KS; his mother, Wanda Nelson of Windom, KS; a sister, Cheri (Roger) Aufdemberge of Mitchell, KS; Emma, Alyvia, and Kason George, Madison Rush, and Evalynn Rush; extended family and friends.

His father and first wife preceded him in death.

Due to Covid, a private celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. The service will be live-streamed so that all can join in this celebration. Please see link below.

Memorials can be made to the Cancer Center of Kansas “McPherson location,” or to Farm Rescue, a 501c3 organization that helps farmers in crisis. 

Memorials can be sent in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.