When Homer Franklin Nelson was born on 2 June 1901, in Dansville, Ingham, Michigan, United States, his father, Chancey Elmer Nelson, was 35 and his mother, Flora Louise Munn, was 23. He married Olive Marian Shaffer on 2 October 1924, in Mason, Ingham, Michigan, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in White Oak, Ingham, Michigan, United States for about 20 years. He died on 27 June 1979, in Williamston, Ingham, Michigan, United States, at the age of 78, and was buried in Dansville, Ingham, Michigan, United States.