Ishpeming - John Nelson, age 80, of 925 Cottage Street, North Lake, passed away on Tuesday, December 2, 2015 at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility where he had resided since October 15. He was in the loving care of the nursing home staff, his family, and the Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice.

John was born July 3, 1935 in North Lake, the son of the late Evelyn (Larmour) and William Nelson. John attended school up until the 11th grade when his father passed away and John began his full-time employment. He worked for 40 years for CCI, retiring as welder from the Tilden Mine in 1993. John spent his entire life in North Lake other than a year in Chicago, IL in 1955.

John was a faithful member of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. John enjoyed playing for Poirier's Horseshoe team in his younger years, as well as hunting and spending time at camp. He was a retired member of the United Steelworkers of America. In his older years John enjoyed gardening vegetables, especially cucumbers that he frequently gave away to family and friends. He also enjoyed going to the casino, and watching his two favorite teams, the Detroit Lions and Tigers.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Genevieve (Belanger) Nelson of North Lake, four children - Nancy Vahamaa of Ishpeming, Janice Mattson of Suomi location, Debbie (Randy) VanSlambrouck of Cheyenne, WY, and John "Hud" Nelson of North Lake, brothers - James (Joan) Nelson of Ishpeming, Kenneth (Shirley) Nelson of Beaver Grove, Michael (Doreen) Nelson of Marquette, sisters - Norma (James) Belmore of Marquette, Mary (Sherwood) Morcom of Ishpeming, and Kay (Rueben) Ollila of North Lake, 9 grandchildren - Paul (Lisa) Vahamaa, Stacie Vahamaa, Andy (Amy) Vahamaa, Stephanie (Robert) Ehrhardt, Jeremy (Erica) VanSlambrouck, Dustin (Crystal) VanSlambrouck, Marissa Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Alexis Nelson, 7 great grandchildren, and one expected in June, along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers - Robert, William, Richard, Thomas and George Nelson and his sisters - Myrtle Rivord and Evelyn Eckloff, and his sons-in-law - Paul "Gus" Vahamaa and Stephen Mattson.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 11:00am-1:00pm on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00pm on Saturday at the church with Fr. Larry Van Damme to officiate. Interment will take place at the Northland Chapel Gardens in Negaunee Township. A luncheon will follow the service in the K/D hall at church.

John's obituary may be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .