Jon Nicoli Nelson, 9/22/1937 – 10/02/2021
Celebration of Life: July 16, 2022, 12:00pm – 4:00pm, Holmen, WI American Legion
Jon’s light continues to shine through his wife Gloria, together for over 47 years, and their 6 children & spouse: Vickie & Bob (CO), Rick & Cathy (CO), Jeff & Jay (CO), Todd & Kim (MN), Jerry & Carrie (CO) and Shannon (MN); grandchildren (CO, MN, WI): Season & Robert, Jesse, Chloe, Tiffany & Lamont, Brock, Cassandra, Montgomery, Ashley, Abby, Nelson, Lillianna; great grandchildren, CO: Mercedes & Spencer, Madalyn, Brad, Ethan, Adrian, Cecelia, Isabel, Gino, Gabriela, Nico, Elliott and Eleanor and great great-grandchildren (CO): Theo & Lilah
Jon’s parents, Alden & Helen Nelson raised their 5 children with pride of their Norwegian heritage in Holmen, WI. Jon’s siblings always had a special place in his heart. Jon was the second child, oldest son, his siblings referred to one another by number in fun: No. 1, Joan, passed in 2015, No. 2 Jon, No. 3 Jerry (Kathy) Nelson of Holmen, WI,, No. 4, Joy (Lynn) Crysler of Woodstock, IL and No. 5 Barbara (John , passed in 2015) Rausch, Twin Lakes, WI. Jon and his siblings have many stories to share about their youth and time with one another and beloved cousins growing-up in the Coulee area (Casberg Coulee being named for their Mother’s side of the family when they settled from Norway).
Jon will be remembered by his loved ones and friends alike for his sense of humor, pride of showing off his favorite photo of his wife declaring “boy could she dance” and how his face lit up at the mention of his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Jon was a “jack of all trades”. He had a pilot’s license, rode a motorcycle, and drove everything with a motor. He was a salesman, inventor (patents including: Draftshield, Deckslider, Deckramp), comedian and storyteller (entertaining many).
He believed that laughter is good for the soul. His eldest grandson Brock said it best, “My Grandpa Jon was the most sarcastic man you’d ever meet. If you weren’t crying and your stomach didn’t hurt from laughing, you didn’t have a sense of humor.” “He taught me I could laugh while working hard. Because what’s the damn point? If you aren’t laughing then what the hell are we doing here?”
Jon expressed his satisfaction with life and love for his family and friends when he wrote (2016), “That old chicken neck with a flaw right now is still the luckiest old neck you might ever see. I have had more good luck than I ever deserved, and have had more fun with my super family and super wife than anyone can deserve. Plus all the outstanding friends I have had and hold dear to my chest and no one can take them away from me.”
