Paul Nelson, Jr. passed away at home on January 28th.
Born in 1929 to Paul and Catherine Nelson, he grew up in Kingston, New York. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy and served on the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Tarawa, during the Korean War. He married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth, in 1951.
Paul worked as a Toolmaker at IBM for 29 years in Kingston, Boulder and Tucson. He loved camping, and traveling in the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand and working in his home shop. He was happiest being with his family, fixing almost anything, and eating Liz’s cooking.
Paul is survived by his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth, daughters Dale Durland and son-in-law Jeff, Lori Palmer and son-in-law-Brian, and granddaughters Kelley Morrissey (husband Scott), Jamie Morrissey, and Tara Brown (husband Tommy). He will be remembered by his many friends and family as a gentle, loving person and a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
A memorial will be held later this year. Donations in Paul’s memory may be made to the National Park Foundation at https://give.nationalparks.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20026b?df_id=1621&mfc_pref=T&1621.donation=form1&_ga=2.7580854.584107328.1612314745-1420766576.1612314745&NONCE_TOKEN=BC97A6C0C176F1C2612928264E32835C.
Aunt Liz, Dale, Lori, Kelley, Jamie, Tara, Brian and Jeff,
I’m sending you my deepest sympathy. My heart is just broken with sadness. Uncle Paul was such a gift to all of us. He was AMAZING in every role he lived. Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, and Friend. He was so much to so many. Uncle Paul had the biggest heart. He had a special kindness about him. He knew how to make you feel loved. He knew how to make you feel special, like you were the most important person in the room. His words were always kind and he cared for people deeply. He will remain alive in all of us, Uncle Paul’s memory will forever live in my heart. He was one hell of a man! I’m lucky to call him Uncle. Aunt Liz, you surely had the BEST as a husband and as a friend. I’m so terribly sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you all. Sending everyone love from Arizona.
A lovely tribute ro a warm, kind and generous man. He always had a smile for everyone.
When I think about Paul I remember all the wonderful memories we shared. So many fun times together. He was like a true brother to me. From New York to Colorado to Arizona, our families grew together and shared so much love between us. I will miss Paul and his mischievous smile. He is with Frank again and boy I bet they are having a grand ol’ time. My most sincere condolences to the family. I know how hard this must be for you all. Sending much love and prayers your way. Love, Carol
Your tribute to Paul’s is beautiful; feels like I went to the Celebration of Life, seeing Paul’s amazing life of love. He loved very well! Great photos said it all; we can his love in his eyes looking at wife Lizzie, daughters Dale and Lori and grandchildren-adults. I am so grateful that I met Paul & Lizzie when I was a teenager, and I feel very lucky to know Dale. A deep bow to Dale, Jeff and Lizzie, caring for Paul’s last years. Giving love back to Paul was a priceless treasure, so that he could live “at home” and die at home. The song about Grandpa brought my tears. Deepest sympathy to all Paul’s family; a great man gave his all.
Very moving tribute to a life well-lived and a life-long love story. Sending hugs to all who will miss him!❤️♥️❤️♥️
I moved to Boulder with Dale in the early 70s from Woodstock, NY. I was a stranger in a strange land. Not for long. Paul and Liz “adopted” me with open arms. They offered their home for several months as a place to live until we could find one of our own. I will never forget the generosity, joy, and love I felt being with them. It’s hard to separate Paul from Liz. They were a perfect pair, an example of true love. When I think of Paul, I think of a person that was generous, authentic, kind, and honest. What you saw was what you got. I remember watching Bronco games with him when they were abysmally bad in the old AFL. It didn’t matter. It was about sharing experiences with those he cared about. If Liz was vivacious, Paul was deliberate. He loved his family, he loved life. He was one of the most grounded men I’ve ever met. To use a Yiddish word, he was a real “mensch,” a truly good man. My thoughts go out to Liz, Dale, Lorrie, Tara, Jeff and all the rest of this large and loving family. I’m glad Paul’s life touched mine.
We were blessed to have Liz & Paul as friends for so many years. Both are & were wonderful people . God bless them now & always. Some of our best memories are times spent with them.
Where ever you are Paul i’m sure you are putting things in order.Love you & miss you buddy….
My condolences to his family and friends that loved him and knew him more than I. I only knew “Mr. Nelson” for a few weeks circa 1967 when I was 19. I was on a journey west from New York planning to stop in Boulder to visit Dale. A short visit got extended while my ’63 VW beetle got an engine overhaul, fried from the journey so far. The Nelson’s welcomed me as if I was family. As I look at the opening photograph and the videos, the kindness revealed in his eyes instantly connects me back in time to the essence of my experience with him. Susan (Perry) Madison’s tribute assures me that my brief experience was a lifetime to all others that knew him.
My specific experience that has lasted all my years is when Mr. Nelson allowed my to drive his prized ’57 Chevy so that Dale and I could go out and see the sights of Boulder. Dale said her father had never let anyone else ever drive his ’57 Chevy before. I mean, guys, it was a ’57 CHEVY, a beaut! I well up, yet again, just remembering that honor, that generosity, that extension of trust to a teenage kid he’d recently met. Ahh, so that’s what a father does! I’ve had my share of profound moments in my life, being so fortunate to have experienced this good man, Paul Nelson, even briefly, was surely among them.
Paul was a great man who will sorely be missed by all who knew him. He was kind, generous, and always ready to offer a helping hand. He was the type of man all men should aspire to be. Always loving and caring, faithful and true. You were blessed to have met him, he always had a smile on his face and was always happy to meet you when you were in his presence. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, Uncle and friend. I was blessed to have him in my life. My condolences to everyone.
With our deepest sympathy to all the family. We hope your beautiful memories will sustain you during this time of sadness and be a beacon of light for all times.
As his brother-in-law our family remembers so many wonderful years we spent with Paul and his family living in the Kingston, N.Y. area. All the birthdays and holidays we spent together were the best times any family could wish for.
As we look back over those 70 plus years Paul was the kind of father and friend that all families would envy.
Thank you Paul, for your Navy service during the Korean War.
It has been comforting to know that you were with Dale during this Covid pandemic. Our warmest love to Elizabeth, Dale and Lori.
We first met Paul and Liz when I started as a nurse in the same office with Liz. It was so obvious how much in love they were and we enjoyed so many good times. Even when Paul was transferred to Tucson, we tried to see them whenever we were in town to see Ray’s folks who had retired in Tucson. We were so happy that we all ended up in Longmont and we really miss our dates with them to go out to lunch and to see a movie. We usually ended up at their place where Liz had baked one of her great pies (yum). It is obvious what great people and parents they were by their daughters (nurses, of course) and their entire extended facilities. The slide show and video were so moving and we can’t thank Dale and Jeff enough for the excellent care they gave to Paul and Liz always, but especially during this pandemic and during their need for constant care. We never heard Paul say an unkind word about anyone and he was a great listener. We were privileged to be a small part of their lives these many years. Our sympathy to the entire family.
Uncle Paul was and still is a class act of a man. I will miss him on this earth and hope to meet him again on the other side.
A Sailors Prayer
Charles D. Williams
Sailors pray,
For fair winds and a following sea
The smell of salt in the air,
The feel of their skin as it’s touched by the spray
An albatross soaring above,
Dolphins in the ship’s wake at play
To witness a work of art that only God can create,
The sunset at the end of day
At night a million stars in the sky,
Safe anchorage in an islands lee
When the time comes to die as for all it must,
To awake in Sailors Heaven where nothing ever rusts
And always there would be,
Fair winds and a following sea
Being good friends with Lori and Brian gave us the opportunity to meet Paul and Liz, and we got to visit with them on many occasions. We were so sad to hear of Paul’s passing. We had some great memories with him. Enjoyed many stories about his time in the Navy, about Paul and Liz’s romance, about their family life, travels, about Paul’s work at IBM, his many talents and his tool-making skills. Spent many enjoyable visits hanging out in the pool in Arizona and visiting. We remember Paul getting hoisted into the pool at Lori and Brian’s place after his hip surgery, with a great pulley system. Paul was always so pleasant and friendly, with a good sense of humor and ready smile. He was always interesting…..and interested! He’s clearly a very accomplished man, but in our eyes, one of his greatest accomplishments was being our friend Loris’ dad, because without Paul we wouldn’t know our dear friend Lori.
Much love to Liz, Lori, Brian and family!
Beth and Mike