John Franklin Nelson Jr.

John Franklin Nelson Jr., 93, was welcomed to his heavenly home on June 16, 2024, a year after his wife's passing. He was born to John Franklin Nelson Sr. and Fannie Marie Baldwin in Glendale, California, on August 18, 1930. He graduated from Mark Keppel High School in Alhambra and made his way to Oregon where he met and married Ruth Darlene Abderhalden at the Montavilla Church of Christ, Portland, Oregon, in 1953. They were married 69 years and had three children: Johnene, Randy, and Brian.

John was a devoted Christian and served the church in many areas, including high school youth group leader, elder, and adult Bible school teacher in the churches he faithfully attended his whole life.

Professionally, John was a skilled machinist, starting his career at Iron Fireman and later working at Omark, Production Parts, and A-dec, from which he retired in 1997. He began with manual machines and progressed to designing tools and operating CNC milling machines and grinders.

Beyond work, John had a remarkable array of hobbies and talents, many of which were self-taught. He raised performing pigeons; enjoyed bodybuilding; raced go-carts; enjoyed fishing, including tying his own flies and lures; enjoyed electronics, metalworking, and building many upgrades with wood around his home; and later in life made fine furniture, clocks, toys, and other keepsakes for the entire family. He was always physically active, participating in the Hood to Coast; riding his bike on the I-205 bike path; and competing in running, shot put, discus, and javelin events at Masters Track & Field competitions.

John cherished family time, enjoying camping trips and later exploring the country with Ruth. He maintained a vibrant garden every spring, exercising his green thumb. They delighted in the company of cats and dogs and welcomed beautiful birds to their backyard while humorously battling the squirrels.

John is survived by his daughter Johnene Laminack (Kenneth) and his sons Randy (Christi) and Brian (Dawn). He leaves behind seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren with one on the way. He is preceded in death by his wife Ruth, his brother Donald, and his granddaughter Megan.

Together, John and Ruth Nelson's legacy is one of love, faith, and boundless creativity. They now rejoice in eternal reunion.