Cloudy, 48° F
(June 11, 2006)
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 22 in the Northwest College Cabre Gym for M. Douglas (Doug) Nelson, who died of a massive heart attack June 11 in Lotan, Israel on the day ahead of his 64th birthday.
The Northwest College professor of anthropology and Greek and Hebrew history was leading an archaeology dig in Israel in a summer credit course through NWC.
Pastor Megan Nickles of St. John’s Episcopal Church will preside at services. Burial will be in Thermopolis.
He was born June 12, 1942, in Thermopolis, son of Frank and Delta (Jones) Nelson. He graduated from Thermopolis High School in 1960. He earned a Ph.D. degree in Near Eastern Studies at UCLA and bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Abilene Christian College.
He had taught at NWC since 1983. He had just learned that he had been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to teach at Yarmouk University in Jordan.
He held his family in the highest regard. He was a beloved father, friend, grandfather, uncle and brother.
He was an avid basketball player and “official” family musician on the guitar.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Michael D. Nelson and Sally Helen Nelson; a daughter and son-in-law, Brianna Nelson Claire and Kenneth Robert Claire; six brothers, Donald Nelson, Richard Nelson, Melvin (Blackie) Nelson, Otis Nelson, Artie Nelson and Rodney (Ty) Nelson; a sister, Mildred Hart (John); a sister-in-law, Lee Nelson; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Earl Nelson in 1995.
His six brothers will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include son Michael D. Nelson, and grandsons Tosh O. Nelson and Julian M. Nelson.
For those who wish, the family would appreciate memorial gifts to the Douglas M. Nelson Scholarship Fund in care of the NWC Foundation.
Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
