Andrew E. Nelson (Andy)

Andy was born on August 27, 1941 in Escanaba, the son of Hjalmar and Edna (Johnson) Nelson. He grew up in Ensign and attended Rapid River Schools. In his early years, he spent a lot of time learning from the immigrants of Ensign. The Swedish dialect he picked up was a version that no longer exists in Sweden.

He enlisted in the United States Army in 1963 and was stationed in Germany. While in Europe, he set out to rebuild a strong connection to his extended Swedish family; a connection that has blossomed and endures to this day, with his most recent visit to Sweden in 2018. After his military service as an Army engineer, he attended some college in Escanaba. He spent the rest of his career at Mead and then Mead-Westvaco paper mill as millwright, before landing a position there and subsequently retiring as a carpenter.

Andy was a proud member of the Rapid River American Legion Post 301 and recently was awarded his 60-year pin. He was also an elected member of the Forty and Eight and joined the U.P. Honor Flight to Washington DC in 2018. A long-time advocate for veterans, helped connect many who served to necessary healthcare resources and benefits. He was also very involved in Gladstone Swedish Club.

Andy was a devoted man of service and faith and an active member of First Lutheran Church in Gladstone, including singing in their choir and in the Shades of Grey Barbershop Quartet.

Andy along with his former wife, Jolane, spent many winters in Lake Havasu City, Arizona with great friends where he was active in the Mount Olive Lutheran church and its woodshop.

As a passionate Yooper and as someone deeply connected to nature and his community, his hobbies were cruising for timber, cutting down trees, woodworking, golf, polka dancing, watching documentaries, hunting, and visiting with friends and family. He enjoyed spending as much time as possible at his camp, where he lovingly built a Swedish-inspired hunting cabin from the ground up.

He was a lifelong learner and always good for a light-hearted joke, an insightful comment, kind word, helpful suggestion, and extending a hand to anyone who needed help.

Adored by his two daughters and two grandchildren and beloved by countless friends and members of the community, Andy embodied a strong, inviting, authentic, grounded presence that attracted people to him wherever he went.

Andy is survived by: two daughters, Julie (Dennis) Landwehr of Escanaba, Karin Nelson of Los Angeles, Calif.; two brothers, Stephen (Cathy) Nelson of Ishpeming, Stuart Nelson of Portugal; two sisters, Connie Salmi of Gladstone, Carolyn Nelson of Ensign, Mich.; grandchildren, Lukas Oswald and Emma Landwehr and several nieces, nephews and great nieces, nephews and cousins.

Andy is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Mark Nelson.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, June 21 from 2 until 3:45 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Gladstone. Military honors will take place at 3:45 p.m. with Rapid River American Legion Post 301 presenting. A funeral service honoring Andy’s life will follow at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Elisabeth Daniels officiating. A meal will take place in the fellowship hall. Andy will be laid to rest after cremation in the Rapid River Cemetery. The Skradski Family Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the Nelson family. To offer an online message of sympathy please visit www.skradskifuneralhomes.com.