1932
James
2017
James "Jim" Nelson
May 19, 1932 — May 22, 2017
James “Jim” Ernest Nelson, 85, of Smithville, passed away Monday, May 22, 2017, at the Veterans Home in Cameron, MO due to complications of ALS. Jim was born May 19, 1932, to John and Thelma (Spangler) Nelson, in ST. Louis, MO. He graduated from East High School in 1949. He married Doris Turnbough, his childhood friend, October 31, 1952 in Mountain Home, AR. In November 1952 he was drafted and proudly served in Army. Jim worked for KCP&L where he retired in 1987. He also served as the leader of local IBEW 1613. After retirement he enjoyed remodeling houses, working on cars, and attending his children’s sporting events. Jim also served as President of the Greenhaven Neighborhood Assoc. and took great pride in improving the neighborhood.
Jim was preceded in death by both parents.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, his son David (Wendy) Nelson, Olathe, KS, two daughters; Debbie Nelson of Kansas City, MO, and Brenda Strodtman of Liberty, MO. Also surviving is a sister, June Nelson of Denver, CO, five grandchildren; Amber, Brian, Brett, Jack, and Luke, also five great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 30, 2017 from 11:00 – 1:00 PM with Funeral Services immediately following at 1:00 PM at Terrace Park Funeral Home; 801 NW 108th St. (169 Hwy & Shoal Creek) Kansas City, MO. Burial with military honors to follow in Terrace Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, family requests that memorial contributions go to the Missouri Veterans Home. Share online condolences at TerraceParkFuneral.com.
As told through the eyes of his son Dave.
I loved my father and I’m happy I told him those words many times recently. Everyone in our family loved and respected him greatly.
It’s one of life’s cruel ironies that he died at age 85 from ALS which attacked his body’s muscle system. Only 2 years ago he was climbing a ladder to clear debris off the roof and doing all the needed yard work.
He easily handled a brief scare with prostate cancer and survived a serious bout of phenomena 5 years ago but the ALS was too much. His life ended as he sat sleeping peacefully in his favorite recliner and his lungs simply stopped working.
He lived his life through hard work, service to his community and great commitment to his family.
He started working at Kansas City Power and Light Company at age 19 and retired at age 55. Monday thru Fridays his work day ended at 4:30. Family dinner was on the table before 5pm. From 6-9pm he would do home improvement work for a large network of customers or he would be working downstairs in his home workshop.
He could do it all ---- woodworking, plumbing, electrical and complete room additions. His work was amazing and he only worked through referrals never advertising.
After retirement he focused on real estate rehab and ownership projects and was flipping houses before flipping was cool on HGTV.
He owned and sold a single family home in Claycomo, a duplex in the Northeast section of KC and a 6 unit apartment building also in Northeast.
The properties were huge successes since he did all the work himself.
His final project was 12 years ago when he bought another Northeast house that needed to brought up to city code or be demolished. The cost was $5,000. With the help of my sister Debbie and nephew Brian, some investment and a lot of sweat equity he was able to sell the house for $96,000.
He was a tremendous leader in his community and in 2003 was recognized by the city of Kansas City, Mo. as a recipient of “The Keep Kansas City Beautiful Award.” As president of the Greenhaven neighborhood association he led the construction of a community shed that kept yard and repair tools. These tools were loaned out to the neighborhood residents to maintain and improve the quality of their homes. He was very well respected within the community and was called upon many times for his vast skill set.
Through all his hard work and time commitments our Dad still kept his family as the number one priority in his life.
Mom and Dad created an ideal childhood for us 3 kids. Mom stayed home and was there for us every day. We did well in school, had many friends, spent summer days at Sun ‘n Surf swim club and enjoyed loving parents to guide us along the way.
We have great memories of our summer family vacations to places like Lake of the Ozarks, Wyoming, South Dakota, Branson, MO., Estes Park, CO and San Diego, CA.
Dad never missed one of my sporting events or my sisters’ activities.
He taught me how to swing a golf club, tie a tie and offer a firm handshake. He taught Brenda how to be a great bowler and helped her raise two sons. Debbie inherited his ability and confidence to tackle any home project and his spirit lives on through her beautiful home.
My Dad had a special and strong bond with my beautiful wife Wendy who he looked upon as the Heart and Soul of our family with her tremendous compassion and thoughtfulness toward all in the family and others.
He wishes his life would have continued so he could witness and enrich the lives of his grandchildren. He would like to have seen much future happiness for Brian, Nikki and baby Charlotte. He loved spending time with Brett and Liz and will live on in the hearts of Jack and Hannah.
He wishes he could be involved in the life of our 13 year old son Luke as he grows into a man that would make my Dad proud.
On March 8th of this year we moved Dad into the VA Home for Men in Cameron, Mo. They provided him the care and safety he needed.
We visited again just 4 days later as our Mom was now living at their home, alone and without him for the first time in 64 years.
Near the end of our visit as we were making sure Dad was comfortable and happy with his new environment he simply turned to Mom and said “How are you doing?” Though his life was coming to an end he was still most concerned for how Mom was getting along without him.
We finally asked him if there was anything we could get him before we left and he replied after a little thought……. “ A new body.”
We love you Dad
Jim was preceded in death by both parents.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, his son David (Wendy) Nelson, Olathe, KS, two daughters; Debbie Nelson of Kansas City, MO, and Brenda Strodtman of Liberty, MO. Also surviving is a sister, June Nelson of Denver, CO, five grandchildren; Amber, Brian, Brett, Jack, and Luke, also five great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 30, 2017 from 11:00 – 1:00 PM with Funeral Services immediately following at 1:00 PM at Terrace Park Funeral Home; 801 NW 108th St. (169 Hwy & Shoal Creek) Kansas City, MO. Burial with military honors to follow in Terrace Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, family requests that memorial contributions go to the Missouri Veterans Home. Share online condolences at TerraceParkFuneral.com.
As told through the eyes of his son Dave.
I loved my father and I’m happy I told him those words many times recently. Everyone in our family loved and respected him greatly.
It’s one of life’s cruel ironies that he died at age 85 from ALS which attacked his body’s muscle system. Only 2 years ago he was climbing a ladder to clear debris off the roof and doing all the needed yard work.
He easily handled a brief scare with prostate cancer and survived a serious bout of phenomena 5 years ago but the ALS was too much. His life ended as he sat sleeping peacefully in his favorite recliner and his lungs simply stopped working.
He lived his life through hard work, service to his community and great commitment to his family.
He started working at Kansas City Power and Light Company at age 19 and retired at age 55. Monday thru Fridays his work day ended at 4:30. Family dinner was on the table before 5pm. From 6-9pm he would do home improvement work for a large network of customers or he would be working downstairs in his home workshop.
He could do it all ---- woodworking, plumbing, electrical and complete room additions. His work was amazing and he only worked through referrals never advertising.
After retirement he focused on real estate rehab and ownership projects and was flipping houses before flipping was cool on HGTV.
He owned and sold a single family home in Claycomo, a duplex in the Northeast section of KC and a 6 unit apartment building also in Northeast.
The properties were huge successes since he did all the work himself.
His final project was 12 years ago when he bought another Northeast house that needed to brought up to city code or be demolished. The cost was $5,000. With the help of my sister Debbie and nephew Brian, some investment and a lot of sweat equity he was able to sell the house for $96,000.
He was a tremendous leader in his community and in 2003 was recognized by the city of Kansas City, Mo. as a recipient of “The Keep Kansas City Beautiful Award.” As president of the Greenhaven neighborhood association he led the construction of a community shed that kept yard and repair tools. These tools were loaned out to the neighborhood residents to maintain and improve the quality of their homes. He was very well respected within the community and was called upon many times for his vast skill set.
Through all his hard work and time commitments our Dad still kept his family as the number one priority in his life.
Mom and Dad created an ideal childhood for us 3 kids. Mom stayed home and was there for us every day. We did well in school, had many friends, spent summer days at Sun ‘n Surf swim club and enjoyed loving parents to guide us along the way.
We have great memories of our summer family vacations to places like Lake of the Ozarks, Wyoming, South Dakota, Branson, MO., Estes Park, CO and San Diego, CA.
Dad never missed one of my sporting events or my sisters’ activities.
He taught me how to swing a golf club, tie a tie and offer a firm handshake. He taught Brenda how to be a great bowler and helped her raise two sons. Debbie inherited his ability and confidence to tackle any home project and his spirit lives on through her beautiful home.
My Dad had a special and strong bond with my beautiful wife Wendy who he looked upon as the Heart and Soul of our family with her tremendous compassion and thoughtfulness toward all in the family and others.
He wishes his life would have continued so he could witness and enrich the lives of his grandchildren. He would like to have seen much future happiness for Brian, Nikki and baby Charlotte. He loved spending time with Brett and Liz and will live on in the hearts of Jack and Hannah.
He wishes he could be involved in the life of our 13 year old son Luke as he grows into a man that would make my Dad proud.
On March 8th of this year we moved Dad into the VA Home for Men in Cameron, Mo. They provided him the care and safety he needed.
We visited again just 4 days later as our Mom was now living at their home, alone and without him for the first time in 64 years.
Near the end of our visit as we were making sure Dad was comfortable and happy with his new environment he simply turned to Mom and said “How are you doing?” Though his life was coming to an end he was still most concerned for how Mom was getting along without him.
We finally asked him if there was anything we could get him before we left and he replied after a little thought……. “ A new body.”
We love you Dad
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