Jack D. Nelson |
| Posted 2009-11-18 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Jack D. Nelson, DC, 73, born July 31, 1936, in Springfield, Colo., passed away Nov. 15, 2009, in Prescott, Ariz. Services are pending. Heritage Memory Mortuary is caring for the family. ------------------------------------ The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, November 19, 2009 Jack Dee Nelson, 73, of Prescott, Ariz., born July 31, 1936 in Springfield, Colo. went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Nov. 15, 2009. Jack was the fifth of six children, born to Glenn and Martha E. (Hubbard) Nelson. Raised on a farm in Delta, Colo., the family then moved to El Cerrito, Calif. in 1942. Jack gave his life to the Lord at age 14. In 1947, the family moved to Sublette, Kan. where he graduated from high school in 1954. After graduation he attended West Contra Costa Junior College in Richmond, Calif. Two years later he was drafted into the Army and was sent to Fort Monmouth, N.J. to the U.S. Army Signal School and became a photographer, rank E4. He received an Honorable Discharge on May 18, 1961. Jack returned to Sublette, Kan. where he worked for Northern Natural Gas. Jack met his adoring wife Sonja Thiel there in 1963, marrying on Oct. 16, 1964. After a back injury on the job, Jack couldn't find relief from his pain. Friends suggested Jack should see a Chiropractor. For the first time Jack's pain was relieved- instantly. He became interested in Chiropractic philosophy. Jack and Sonja then moved to Kansas City, Mo., where Jack attended Cleveland Chiropractic College at the age of 30. During his years in college he worked full time and became a proud father to Julie Gay Nelson, Oct. 16, 1967 and Janelle Kay Nelson, April 1, 1969, while maintaining excellent grades. After graduation in 1970, Jack moved his family to Prescott, Ariz., where he opened Prescott Chiropractic Clinic in 1971. On Jan. 14, 1974 Jack and Sonja's son Lance Robert Nelson was born. Lance was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at age 6. He was a joy to Jack and Sonja. Despite his learning and physical disabilities, Lance reached out and touched all who knew him. Jack was very involved with his family taking them swimming, camping, on bike rides, hiking and canoeing. He was always there to encourage, teach, love and support his children. Jack could fix anything or build anything. His children and wife loved and respected him greatly. He was a loyal, moral man of integrity, who applied himself 100 percent in everything he set his hand to. Jack enjoyed welding, mechanics, inventing and building, water skiing, hiking and mowing with his John Deer riding lawn mower, which was his prized possession. Jack was an avid reader and sports fan. He was literally a "Jack of all trades." He was a quiet man until he got to know a person. Jack had a giving heart and exercised it by taking clothing and food to the Hopi Indian Reservation on many occasions. He was a member of the Prescott- Caborca, Mexico Sister City Program, the Kiwanas and Yavapai County Chiropractor's Association. Jack loved his career as a Chiropractor. He taught each patient about chiropractic and how it applied to them. In 1982 Jack earned his Acupuncture Certification from Arizona Chiropractic Board of Examiners and was able to help many more patients. Jack became friends with many of his patients over the years, sharing jokes along the way. He was an excellent storyteller, especially if the story was a joke. He brought laughter into his household with jokes his patients constantly shared with him. He always had a joke that was appropriate to the situation. Jack recently received an Honorary Certificate from Cleveland Chiropractic College for 40 years of Chiropractic service. He was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) in June 2009. Surviving family includes Jack's wife of 45 years, Sonja Ruth Nelson; two daughters, Julie Gay Nelson and Janelle Kay Nelson all of Prescott, Ariz.; his sister Helen (Elbert) Walters of Aurora, Colo.; and his brother Jerry Nelson of Oklahoma City, Okla.; aunts and uncles and many cousins. Jack was preceded in death by his son Lance Robert Nelson in 1990 and parents Glenn Nelson and Martha (Hubbard) Nelson, as well as brothers, Robert Nelson of San Diego, Jim Nelson of Auburn, Calif. and sister Eva Walker of Colorado Springs, Colo. A celebration of Dr. Jack D. Nelson's life will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at the American Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1085 Scott Drive in Prescott, Ariz. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 at First Church of the Nazarene, 2110 Willow Creek Road. The family suggests memorials to the Dr. Jack Nelson scholarship memorial fund or to Yavapai Food Bank in Prescott Valley, Ariz. Heritage Memory Mortuary is caring for the family. Information provided by survivors. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?