Obituary

Nadine Louise Bright Bell died peacefully with family at her side on June 9, 2025.

Nadine was born November 5, 1927 in Des Moines, Iowa, daughter of Nina Howell Bright and Jesse Scott Bright. She attended Des Moines schools, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1945. She then attended Iowa State University for two years and later graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. degree. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. At the University of Iowa, she met Howard Bell and they were married June 17, 1951.

In 1953 they moved to Rockford, IL, where Howard started his banking career at Third National Bank, which later became J.P. Morgan Chase. During their 45 years in Rockford, Nadine was a member of Second Congregational Church. For 15 years, she was a board member of Rockford Art Association, (now Rockford Art Museum), and a member of the Women’s Board of Rockford Museum. She was also a member of the Junior League of Rockford.

For several years Nadine and Howard spent the winter months in Naples and Bonita Springs, Florida. In 1996, Bonita Bay in Bonita Springs became their year-round home. During their Florida years Nadine was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs, The League Club of Naples, the Naples Chapter of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, and Bonita Bay Club. An avid reader, Nadine enjoyed membership in book clubs in Rockford, Bonita Bay, and at Eagle Crest in Onalaska, Wisconsin, where she moved in 2016 to be closer to her family.

Nadine and Howard had been married for 60 years when Howard died in 2011. She was also preceded in death by her sister Geraldine Faye Rich of Greely, CO. She is survived by two sons, Howard Edward Bell (Katherine) of Onalaska, Wisconsin and Jonathan Scott Bell (Karen) of Peoria, Illinois, and grandchildren Sarah, Lauren, Laura and Parker.

There will be a family graveside service at Scandinavian Cemetery in Rockford, Illinois.