Eric Nefstead

Eric Nefstead, 70 of Winnebago died Saturday, November 2, 2013 peacefully in his home. Born September 9, 1943 in the southeast second-story bedroom of his grandfather's home on 11th St. in Rochelle, Ill. He grew up on a black angus farm on the edge of Steward, Ill. where he developed a strong interest in all of nature. He graduated from Rochelle Township High School.

Following high school, he attended the University of Illinois until joining the
U.S. Navy. He served four years, including one year of duty in Vietnam as a
Operating Room Technician attached to the 1st Marine Division Hospital in Da
Nang and the 3rd Marine Division Hospital in Dong Ha, and at sea aboard the USS
Valley Forge and the USS Tripoli.

Following the service Eric attended and graduated from Northern Illinois
University with a Bachelor of Science in Geography with course work in both
meteorology and climatology. He worked as a broadcast meteorologist in four
Midwestern states including North Dakota and Iowa, but all of his recent
experiences have been in Wisconsin and Illinois. The last three cities that Eric
worked in were Rhinelander, Green Bay and Rockford. In 1982, he earned the (AMS)
American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval for Television Broadcasting -
an honor given to recognize meteorologists for their knowledge and broadcasting
presentation of the weather.

In his youth he was out nearly every day watching the clouds learning
how the weather worked first hand. He loved to watch the thunderstorms develop
from heavy cumulus clouds, and follow their movement until they passed out of
the area. Besides weather, Eric's interests include gardening, beekeeping and
public speaking.

Survivors include his son, Tovin "Tom" Nefstead of Savannah, GA; sisters, Cathy and Margaret Nefstead; niece, Michelle Hartman and nephew, Matthew Nefstead and good friend, Penelope Blake. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial service Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 1 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Riverside chapel 3910 N. Rockton Ave. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials to Rockford Rescue Mission.