Long time Alaskan David George Nelson, 66, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at home in Nikiski, Alaska, from COPD and heart failure.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at Joy Lutheran Church in Eagle River, Alaska. Pastors Martin Eldred and Susan Halvor will officiate.
David was born on March 28, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minn. He received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Wayland Baptist University. He served for 26 years, beginning in 1971, in the U.S. Air Force as a weather forecaster and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1997. He then worked as a personal banker for 1st National Bank from 1997 until becoming a manager for Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union in 2004. He retired from banking in 2014.
David was a member of Joy Lutheran Church and enjoyed hunting, his grandkids, gardening, and grilling and smoking meat.
His family wrote: "Dave's strong will, perseverance and dedication led him to succeed in life. He was extremely loyal and cared deeply for those fortunate enough to know him. He was analytical and intelligent. He was also slow to anger and loved to joke around. He was an awesome husband, father and friend, and we already miss him greatly."
Dave was preceded in death by parents, Ed and Martha Nelson; and a son, Erik Nelson.
He is survived by his wife, Benita Nelson; daughter and son-in-law, Allana and Kris Kimbell; grandchildren, Levi, Lincoln, Logan and Lorelai Kimbell; sister and brother-in-law, Dianne and Al Johnson; nephews and spouses, Adam and Amy Johnson, Joe and Deb Johnson and Ben and Megan Johnson; sisters-in-law and spouses, Cheryl and Jeff Budisch and Angela and Pat Porter; brothers-in-law, Joe Fitzgerald and Mike and Sandy Fitzgerald; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marlene and Don Fitzgerald; and nephews, Jay Kravits, Randall, Donnie and Kevin Maas, Ryan and Nick Porter and Shawn Fitzgerald.
Memorial donations may be sent to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517,
Topeka, KS 66675-8517.

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