Mr. Joseph LaValle Nevels Jr.

Joe was born on August 3, 1933 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Joseph and Rose Nevels. He was one of 11 children. Joe attended St. Benedict the Moor elementary school and graduated from North Division High School. After serving two years in the United States Army infantry, Joe came home to Milwaukee, and married Janis Louise Nelson on December 31, 1955. Joe started his own landscape business in the spring of 1956 with his wife as the bookkeeper. Joe Nevels owned and operated Joe Nevels Landscape, Co. Inc. and conducted business in the Milwaukee North Shore suburbs for over 50 years. His dream of starting his own business started at age 9 when he started working with his dad. He told his dad "One day you will see men with uniforms and trucks with our name on them." His father gave him ambition and exposure to wealthy people in the North Shore communities. His mother gave him an interest in flowers, plants and art. Joe's love was creative landscape design and with that prided himself with creating unique and distinctive landscape projects for many generations. His company's work includes Miller Brewing Headquarters, Schlitz Park Office Complex, the Performing Arts Center, the Plaza East office building and many other private and public parks in the Downtown Milwaukee area. His work and success was achieved by word of mouth. He prided himself on employing as many minority and disadvantaged workers as possible. In addition, he also worked to spread awareness of the problems faced by minority owned businesses. He was affiliated with the following: Board Chairman and one of the founders of the African-American Chamber of Commerce, one of the founders of the Minority Contractors Association, Member of the Metropolitan Builders Association for 25 years and member of Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association. In his leisure, Joe enjoyed golf and travel which has taken him to such places as, North Africa, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and 35 Caribbean Islands. Joe Nevels went home to be with the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on December 7, 2016 in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by: his brothers and sisters, Eugene, Juanita, Nellie, Ophelia, Donald and Cornelius. He leaves to cherish in memory: wife, Janis Louise Nevels of Milwaukee, WI; daughter, Carla Tate (Wayne) of Milwaukee, WI; sons, Jeffrey Nevels of Memphis, TN and Jay Nevels of Milwaukee, WI; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Tyrone Nevels Sr. (Mary) of Mequon, WI; sisters, Delores Jordan of Milwaukee, WI and La Wanda Johnson of Los Angeles, CA; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other extended relatives and friends.

Mr. Joseph LaValle Nevels Jr.

August 3, 1933 - December 7, 2016