James T. Nelson, 78, passed away after a brief illness on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Lantana FL. He was born Nov. 2, 1945, in Waltham, MA and raised in Wilton NH, the son of Fred and Kathryn Nelson.
Jim graduated from Wilton High School in 1963 and earned his Eagle Scout Rank. He went on to serve in the US Army as a field medic during the Vietnam war from 1965-1968. When he returned from Vietnam, he attended the New England Institute of Embalming and Mortuary Science in Boston, MA. For many years he worked alongside his father, Fred Nelson, running the Nelson Funeral Homes, Nelson’s Ambulance Service, and Nelson’s Answering Service. He later became the sole proprietor of
Nelson Funeral Homes. He served as the President of the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association in 1978. He also served on the NH Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers from 1983 – 1992.
For many years, he was an active member of the Wilton community. He served as a justice of the peace, a bail commissioner and was an active member of the Main Street Association. He was a member of the American Legion Burke Bent Post 10 in Wilton, NH and was a longtime member of the Wilton Lions Club where he once served as president and also received the Melvin Jones Fellow award. He was a volunteer firefighter in Wilton from 1973-1983 and was a Free Mason at the Clinton Lodge in Wilton. Jim was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church serving as an altar boy and later as a Eucharistic minister, Folk group member and on the Church Finance Council. He was also a coach and sponsor for the Monadnock Hockey League and Mites Division from 1975-1976.
Upon his retirement in 2008, he moved to Old Saybrook, CT where he would split his time between there and Lantana FL. Jim’s favorite lifelong hobby was being a craftsman and woodworker. His special abilities included fixing antique furniture, making fireplace mantles, and cradles and rocking horses for his grandchildren. In retirement his passion became wood turning, crafting wood bowls, boxes and ornaments.
He is survived by his loving wife Rita Jackson. His children, Tammy (Nelson) Stieper, and her husband Kurt, Darrin Nelson and his wife Margie, Daniel Nelson and his wife Pam, Jessica Jackson and Tamera (TJ) Jackson; His grandchildren Kate (Stieper) Lefebvre and her husband Ryan, Erica Stieper, Benjamin Nelson, Jared Nelson, Alexander Nelson, Aurie Nelson, Travis Watrous, Amanda Watrous; his niece Sandrine Corbinand; his sisters Michelle (Dutton) Duran and her husband Bill and Sharon (Dutton) Makara. Also, Brother-in-Law Larry Corona and his wife Marie and Sister-in-law Roberta (Robin) Corbinand.
Family and friends are warmly welcomed to attend calling hours at the Michaud Funeral Home, 32 Maple St Wilton, NH, on Friday July 5, 2024, from 4pm-7pm. The Funeral service will be held the following morning July 6, 2024, at the Michaud Funeral Home at 11 am. A reception will follow at the Red House in Wilton. The burial will be Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Mt. Calvary Cemetery at 10:00 am, all are welcome.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Wilton Fireman’s Relief Fund Association, PO Box 533 Wilton, NH 03086 or to the Wilton Lions Club PO Box 513 Wilton, NH 03086.
