Michael D Nelson

Memorial Services for Michael D. Nelson will be conducted from the Westmark Evangelical Free Church, north of Loomis, Nebraska on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastors Rick Smith and Jim Garfield, officiating. Inurnment with military honors will be in the Sandstrom Cemetery in Phelps County, Nebraska.

Michael Dean Nelson, 60 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Michael was born April 23, 1947 on a farm northeast of Bertrand in Phelps County, the youngest of two sons of Harriet Nelson and grandson of Harry and Ester (Broberg) Nelson. Mike received his primary education in Bertrand, Nebraska until the third grade. At that time, the boys and their mother moved to Jackson, California and then to Concord, California. Mike graduated from Mt. Diablo High School in Concord with the class of 1966. He then returned to Nebraska and attended Kearney State College, where he studied business courses.

On June 11, 1967 he enlisted in the United States Air Force serving six years of active duty. After basic training he was assigned to the Military Police and was stationed at England AFB, Louisiana and Travis AFB, CA. He served one year in Vietnam at Bibn Hoa Air Base, NCRTIT of Saigon and the remaining four years at Travis AFB until his honorable discharge on August 31, 1973. He served his country proudly and received many awards and citations. During his time in the Air Force he had the opportunity to visit Hawaii, Japan and Australia. He also achieved a life long dream by obtaining his private pilots license.

From childhood, aviation was a great interest. His mother would comment that when Mike was a young boy and wasn't sure where he was, he'd be standing at a fence watching the planes and dreaming.

While in the service, Mike was united in marriage to Marilyn Meredith on May 20, 1972 at Travis AFB and to this union one daughter, Rebecca was born. With this marriage, Mike gained two additional children into his life: Brad and Judy. The family made their home in Bertrand and later to Holdrege. Mike was primaryily employed in food management/services and Law Enforcement Communication as a Dispatcher for the Nebraska State Patrol in Holdrege and Minden and the Holdrege Police Dept. In 1989, while in Holdrege he received the Nebraska Communicator of the Year award for being instrumental in the direction of two dangerous escaped convicts from a Colorado prison. Upon arriving in Holdrege a pursuit and shootout through town ensued ending in their arrests.

Mike was perhaps mostly remembered by many when he was the manager of Kentucky Fried Chicken of Holdrege for several years and when he owned and updated the Dairy Treet in Bertrand.

His family and friends were very important to him and he cherished every moment spent with them. Especially the fact that so many miles separated him from his children and grandchildren. He was a member of the American Legion Post #66 at Holdrege, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans and Vietnam Security Police Association.

He leaves to mourn his passing his daughter, Rebecca Griffin and her husband, Steve of Sacramento, California; son, Brad Meredith and his wife, Denise of Lincoln, Nebraska and daughter, Judy Gallamore and her husband, Kenneth of Willow Creek, California; one brother, Meredith "Steve" Nelson of Brentwood, California; eight grandchildren: Tyler Mortensen, Nathan Griffin, Bennett, Savannah, Vicki and Katie Meredith and Shane and Seth Snodgrass; one aunt, Grace Rehnberg of Holdrege; and a host of cousins, other relatives and special friends. He was preceded in death by his mother; grandparents; aunt, Linnea Preitauer, uncle, Ronald Rehnberg and special cousins: Renee Hilman and Roger Rehnberg.

A memorial book signing will be held on Sunday, February 3, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

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.