Dean P. Nelson

Dean was born June 27, 1957, in St. Ignace, son of the late Paul and Charolette (Martinson) Nelson.

After graduating from Iron Mountain High School in 1975, Dean enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a security policeman and later served as a medical service technician.

Dean married Kelley (Coleman) Nelson on October 15, 1977, and they had two sons, Scott and Christopher. After serving nearly 18 years in the U.S. Air Force and achieving the rank of technical sergeant, Dean was medically retired due to a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis.

Dean lived with, and battled, MS for almost 35 years. Before he was diagnosed with MS, Dean’s hobbies included fishing, golfing, singing to Queen songs on road trips, and telling dad jokes. Dean later developed a love for playing bingo in the Community Living Center and giving the staff at the VA a hard time with his jokes, ‘whatever’ attitude, and occasional bad words!

Dean is survived by his sons, Scott Nelson of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Christopher Nelson of Omaha, Neb.; a daughter-in-law, Bridget (Dahlke) Nelson; three grandsons, Cole Nelson, Aiden Nelson, and Connor Nelson; two brothers, Don Nelson and his wife Pam, and Daryl Nelson and his wife, Sonya; three nieces, Sherri (Nelson) Porath, Michelle (Nelson) Backlund and Jessica Nelson; one nephew, John Nelson; and many cousins, friends and extended family.

Dean is preceded in death by his father, Paul Nelson; his mother, Charlotte (Martinson) Nelson; and his brothers, Paul Nelson and David Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Memorial Funds at https://donate.nationalmssociety.org/campaign/Dean-Nelson-s-Memorial-Fund.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 7, at the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. with a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. followed by a burial ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery in Crystal Falls at 1:45 p.m.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Dean P. Nelson online at www.ernashfuneralhome.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.