Thomas Andrews Nelson

Thomas Andrews “Tom” Nelson
July 25, 1931 – December 28, 2017

Thomas Andrews “Tom” Nelson, age 86, of Montrose, Colorado, passed away unexpectedly on December 28, 2017 at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO. Tom was born in the small town of Svea, MN to Filmore and Zilphia (Nelson) Nelson. Little did he know, that in the next town over, he would meet the love of his life and future wife, Gretchen Jacobs, whose grandfather delivered Tom and whose father took care of ten-year-old Tom when he had Rheumatic Fever. The two were married on May 16, 1959. Growing up a hardworking farm boy, Tom aspired to enhance his success and further his education. He went on to earn a business degree at Denver University. Soon after graduating, Tom worked for General Adjustment Bureau in Trinidad, CO before moving to Montrose in 1962. He was an insurance adjustor for various agencies before working at Colorado Ute Electric in Right-of-Way and retiring from Tri-State Electric. Tom was a dedicated and active member in the community. He held various positions including: School Planning to get Centennial Junior High and Johnson Elementary schools built in 1976, Montrose City Planning Commission (1980-1987), Lions Club, Knights of Columbus where he was Grand Knight 1980-81, and was an active member of St. Mary’s Parish, including serving on the Parish Council and being a regular Sunday usher. Above all else, Tom Nelson will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and uncle. He leaves behind his wife, Gretchen (Jacobs) Nelson of Montrose, children; Thomas K. Nelson of Montrose; Shannon Hohrman of Fergus Falls, MN; Kent (Wendy) Nelson of San Diego, CA; Jan (Pete) Burton of Colorado Springs, CO; and Catie Peterson of Klamath Falls, OR; grandchildren; Thomas Logan of Jacksonville, FL; Nicholas Hohrman of Fergus Falls, MN; Beau, Gena, and Mattie Nelson of San Diego, CA; Aric and Andrew Burton of Colorado Springs, CO; Zelphia and Aurora Peterson of Minneapolis, MN; sisters Janice Varney and Barbara Elstad, brother-in-law David (Jeanne) Jacobs, sister-in-law Sandra (Richard) Anderson, and brother-in-law Dale Hubbard. He is preceded in death by his parents Filmore and Zilphia, brother James, sister Geneva Joonson, and twin sister Helen Hubbard. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Tom’s memory to either Macular Degeneration Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, PO Box 1952, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1952 (BrightFocus.org) or Hands and Voices, PO Box 3093, Boulder, CO 80307 (HandsAndVoices.org)
The funeral service will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 5, 2018. Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory in Montrose is assisting the family.