Dr. Jim "J.D." Nelson, M.D.

A funeral service for Dr. Jim “J.D.” Nelson will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bethel Lutheran Church, Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastor Venedith Vargas officiating. A private interment will be held at Moses Hill Cemetery in rural Phelps County, Nebraska.

Dr. James Douglas Nelson, 77, of Overton, Nebraska, passed away peacefully at home on November 11, 2026, following a battle with Progressive Muscular Atrophy. Born October 31, 1949, in Holdrege, Nebraska, Jim was the firstborn child of Robert Louis “Hap” Nelson and Renee LaRue Nelson (née Ekholm).

Jim graduated from Holdrege High School in 1968, then attended Kearney State College, and earned a medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in 1974. Upon obtaining his medical license in 1975, he became the youngest doctor in the state of Nebraska at the age of 26. In 1986 he opened the Country Clinic in Elm Creek, where he practiced as the sole physician until his retirement in 2024. A lifelong advocate for rural medicine, “Doc” was an accomplished family physician for over 50 years and selflessly cared for generations of patients across the region. He was a published author in leading national medical journals and served as an expert medical witness at multiple trials.

Jim’s time away from medicine was spent in nature and at his beloved country home: “The Farm.” An accomplished outdoorsman, he was an avid hunter and fly fisherman. He founded Plum Thicket Kennels, where he and his eldest son, Jared, bred, trained, and sold hunting dogs across the country and internationally. He was equally passionate about automobiles, having spent much of his childhood at Holdrege’s Nelson Oil Company filling station working beside his father, Hap. He loved baseball and basketball, collected hunting rifles and shotguns, and supported Nebraska athletics.

Jim married Connie Nelson at the Overton United Methodist Church on May 1, 1993. Their partnership was marked by shared adventure on the open road, including summers in Estes Park, Colorado and annual fall trips to Blue Hill, Maine.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Donn Nelson; and two sisters-in-laws: Brenda Nelson; and Sandy Nelson.

He is survived by his brother Richard “Dick” Nelson of Kearney; his sister Kathryn Vannoy (Timothy Vannoy) of Leawood, Kansas; and his beloved wife, Connie. Jim was a devoted father and grandfather. He is survived by his children: Jennifer Bostic (John Bostic) of Phoenix, Arizona; Amber Olson of Scottsdale, Arizona; Jared Nelson of Overton; Scott Nelson (Carolyn Nelson) of Brooklyn, New York; step-sons: Stacey Hanley of Sidney, Nebraska; Shawn Hanley (Beth Hanley) of Kearney; and Jamie Rodhouse of Omaha. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Cole Hanley, William Bostic, Lucy Bostic, Annabelle Olson, Henry Brooks Olson, Samuel James Olson, and Colette “Lottie” Nelson.

Jim was a member of the Williamsburg United Methodist Church in Elm Creek.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 16, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

Memorials in Jim’s honor are kindly suggested to: ALS Association or the Alzheimer's Association .

 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.