Gary Richard Nelson

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Nelson, Gary Richard July 10, 1957 December 4, 2016 At age 59, Gary passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully in his sleep at home in Ely, Nevada. Gary was born in Minneapolis, the eldest son of Lowell Robert Nelson and Shirley Jean (Kvanbeck) Nelson. He spent his childhood in New Hope until his family relocated to Annandale, MN where he graduated from Annandale High School in 1975. He worked his way through college and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Minnesota. Gary played league softball his whole life, even won a National Championship with his Twin Cities team. He was recently notified that he would be inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame in 2017. Gary served in the US Air Force and also spent several years working on the ski slopes of Aspen and Snowmass, CO. But Gary found his calling when he spent the last 8 years, with his many cats and dogs, raising sheep on an 80 acre ranch in Ely, NV. Gary was loved and is survived by his parents, Bob & Barbara Nelson of St. Cloud, MN, and Shirley Donaghue of Rifle, CO; his brother, Jerry Nelson of Rifle, CO; his sisters, JoAnn (Joseph) Turner of DeBeque, CO, Juliet Nelson-Vinkemeier of Rifle, CO and Tara (Greg) Wenner of Foley, MN; his nieces, Jessi (Landon) Lipponen of Montrose, MN, Kristin Vinkemeier of New Ulm, MN, and Carrie Vinkemeier of Silt, CO; several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his aunt, Shirley Keefe, and his dear niece, Holly Jo Vinkemeier. Arrangements were made by Mountain Vista Chapel in Ely, Nevada.

Published on January 8, 2017