John William Nelson

John loved the outdoors, and spent many hours honing his fishing skills, hiking, and camping on the Mesa, where he could utilize his innate wilderness survival skills. He found pleasure in hard work and enjoyed his employment as a mover. He was amused by the looks on customers’ faces when they saw the smallest man on the crew carrying the largest piece of furniture. John’s generosity usually exceeded his means, but he never failed to try to help someone in need. Born without fear, John’s tree-climbing, rock-climbing, chimney-climbing, roof-climbing exploits as a child caused many near heart failures. He once killed a rattlesnake with a pocket knife. John had the ability to think outside the box, and he questioned everything. We’ll miss his problem-solving skills. John’s house was filled from top to bottom with the many plants that he had studied and cultivated. He maintained that he inherited his green thumb from his stepmom, Ann. His greatest passion, though, was his dogs, and he was rarely seen without them.

John was proud of his pioneer heritage and the ancestors who settled in the Grand Valley and in the Plateau Valley. John often talked of drawing strength from the spirits of his forefathers and mothers.

John leaves behind his father and stepmother, Frank Nelson and Ann Barrett, his mother, Diana Nichols, his brother, Tom Nelson, grandmother, Mary Lou Ridenour, and his beloved dogs, Solo and Ralphie. He will also be missed by his aunts, uncles, and a myriad of cousins.

Services for John will be held on Saturday, January 4, at 3:00 p.m. at Callahan Edfast Mortuary, 2515 Patterson Road, Grand Junction.