Board

John P. Nelson

Vice Chairman

John P. Nelson is Chairman of the Board of SilverStone Group, which provides employee benefits, wealth transfer, executive compensation plans, risk management, and human resource consulting services.

After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1958, John attended Carlton College in Minnesota and graduated with a B.A. in Economics. He then joined the U.S. Navy where he served as a Supply Officer for three years. After leaving the Navy in 1965, John returned to Iowa and joined his family’s insurance agency, now SilverStone Group.

John is a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter. He also serves on several boards, including American Cancer Society, Bellevue University, Bellevue University Foundation, Boy Scouts of America – Mid-America Council, Council Bluffs Public Library Foundation, Doane College, Durham Museum, Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care, H.H. “Red” & Ruth H. Nelson Family Foundation, Iowa West, Iowa Western Community College Foundation, Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital, Joslyn Art Museum, Joslyn Art Museum Foundation, KANEKO, Mammel Family Foundation, Methodist Health System, Omaha Community Foundation, Southwest Iowa Foundation, Stratcom Consultation Committee, TeamMates Foundation, United Way, and United Way Foundation.

Because of his active service participation throughout the area, John has earned several prestigious awards: Outstanding Young Man of Council Bluffs, Outstanding Young Man of Iowa, Harry Voss Award for Community Involvement, Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce-President’s Award, Children’s Square-Jason Award, Prevent Blindness Nebraska-People of Vision Award, Bluffs Arts Council’s Renaissance Faire of the Midlands-King, Honorary Doctorate of Commerce-Bellevue University, Alegent/Mercy Hospital Heritage Award, Sertoma Club-Outstanding Humanitarian Award, United Way of the Midlands-Citizen of the Year, Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben King, Iowa Western Community College-Investment in Excellence Award, Goodwill Industries-People of the Year Award, Omaha Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame, National Conference for Community & Justice-Humanitarian Award, Boy Scouts of America-Citizen of the Year,and the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

John’s wife, Anne, also graduated from Carleton College and taught high school English for several years. She holds membership or board positions within numerous community organizations, including Ak-Sar-Ben Friendship Circle, Partnership for Our Kids, Child Saving Institute, Jennie Edmundson Hospital Auxiliary, Friends of the Council Bluffs Library, Joslyn Art Museum, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Omaha Community Foundation, Omaha Community Playhouse, Omaha Symphony, and PEO.

John and Anne have three adult children and eight grandchildren. Son John H. is following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and is the President of SilverStone Group. He and his wife Susie live in Omaha and are the parents of triplets. Daughter Kate and her husband Shelby live in Kansas City and have three children, and daughter Molly and her husband Matt live in Los Angeles and are the parents of two children.

The Nelsons are avid travelers, readers, and golfers. Anne also enjoys tennis and needlepoint.