Nelson Edgar Harper
September 12, 1924 – April 26, 2018
NELSON EDGAR HARPER, 93, was born in Joplin, Missouri to parents Dixie and Vashti. He grew up on the family farm in La Russel. In 1942 he was drafted in the U.S. Army’s 246 Combat Engineers Group reaching the rank of sergeant. Mr. Harper landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He later fought his way across Europe in several battles including the famed “Battle of the Bulge” winning several military honors including the Bronze Star.
At the conclusion of World War II, Mr. Harper married his first wife, Alice Gutierrez, with whom he had 5 children, Richard, Lawrence, Ronald, Raelyne, and Randall. Mr. Harper entered the field of electrical engineering and became a pioneering member of the computer engineering field, where he worked with several important contractors including the U.S. Social Security Department and the National Air and Space Agency.
Mr. Harper later met and married Sumako Harper whom he was married to until her death.
Mr. Harper was a former post Commander of the Cypress VFW, held positions with the Japanese American Cultural League, and was a Board Member for 10 years with the Lodge at Lake Tahoe timeshare owners group. He was also the organizer of several 246th Combat Engineers reunions and its website creator/historian.
Mr. Harper leaves behind two surviving sons Ronald and Randall; daughter Raelyne; stepchildren Bill Ohno and Janet Ohno, 11 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.
Service will be held on June 4, 2018 at Wintersburg Presbyterian Church, 2000 N. Fairview St., Santa Ana, CA at 9 A.M. Flowers are welcome.
We will have a gravesite service at 1:30 P.M. at Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside CA 92518.