Byron E Nelson

Celebration of Life Services for Byron E. Nelson will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Jean Clayton, officiating.  A private family inurnment will be held at Moses Hill Cemetery in rural Phelps County, Nebraska with military honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the Nebraska Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team.

Byron E. Nelson, 94 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at his home in Holdrege. Byron was born September 19, 1924 in Loomis, Nebraska, the second youngest son born to George W. Nelson, Sr. and Margaret (Slator) Nelson.  He received his primary education from District 29 school in Phelps County, and then attended Holdrege High School for 2 years, then Loomis High School, where he graduated as Valedictorian with the class of 1941.

Byron played basketball, baseball and softball in high school and continued to play baseball and softball well after high school. He was a well-known baseball pitcher in the area during the 1940's and 1950's, playing in the American Legion and Semi-Pro Ball in the Kansas-Nebraska league.

In 1942, Byron enlisted with his brother, Bernard, in the United States Army Air Force, where he took pilot training until he was medically discharged in 1943.

In 1943, he was united in marriage to Lois Margaret Richman from Huntley, Nebraska, and to this union two children were born: Patricia and Edward. The couple was employed at the Prisoner of War Camp at Atlanta, Nebraska, where Byron worked in the Fire Department. After the war, the camp was disbanded and the couple moved to a farm north of Holdrege, where Byron engaged in farming. In 1949, the family moved to a farm four miles west and one mile south of Holdrege. In 1962, Byron formed his own construction company, building houses in Holdrege, Loomis, and the surrounding areas; including his own home in 1963, where he lived until his passing. The couple celebrated their 65 ^th Wedding Anniversary on December 7, 2008.  Lois preceded him in death on October 30, 2009.

In 1974, Byron went to work for the W.F. Anderson Company as General Superintendent for the Commercial Building Department. Byron was in charge of building the First Security Drive-In Bank; Holdrege Family Medicine Clinic; the Lincoln Federal building; the Trinity Evangelical Free Church; and others.

Byron enjoyed all kinds of hunting and in 1978, was able to take in a whitetail deer that earned him a Boone & Crockett Citation. He was also an avid trap shooter. He helped run the Holdrege Gun Club until 2018, and often traveled to shooting events all over the country. In 1991, Byron was inducted into the Nebraska Trapshooting Hall of Fame. Byron enjoyed sports immensely. He frequently attended Loomis and Holdrege high school sporting events, and loved the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Kansas City Royals. Most of all, Byron loved his family and treasured all of the memories spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Besides his parents and wife, Lois; he was preceded in death by: son-in-law, Roger Brand; two brothers: Bernard Nelson; and George Nelson and his wife, Mary Lou; two sisters: Dollie Kohut and her husband, Eugene; and Margaret Nelson who drowned at the age of 1-1/2 years; four half-brothers: Roy Nelson and his wife, Frances; Ray Nelson and his wife, Gladys; Reuben Nelson and his wife Grace; and Norbert Noonan and his wife, Mildred; and one half-sister, Muriel Dillon.

Byron leaves to celebrate his life: his daughter, Patricia Brand of Hastings; his son, Edward Nelson of Commerce City, Colorado; three grandchildren: Brian Nelson of Commerce City; Michelle (Brand) Christen of Longmont, Colorado; and Deanna Brand of Hastings; five great-grandchildren: Taya, Jacob, Garrett, Gavin, and Nathan; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The family is honoring Byron's wish for cremation.

A Memorial Book Signing will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Byron's honor, and kindly suggested to the Holdrege Gun Club.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements .