David Nelson
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It is with great sadness that the family of David Pollard Nelson (Dave) announces his passing after valiantly living with Parkinson's disease for 19 years, on Friday, June 18, 2021, at the age of 79. Ever the baseball fan, he hit a grand slam, rounded the bases, and crossed home plate to his eternal home with Jesus Christ.
Dave will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 54 years, Dianne Carlson Dreher Nelson, and his children, Tracy Schmitt (Todd), Tami Bertelsen (Joel) and Todd Nelson (Heather). Dave leaves a legacy to his nine grandchildren, Nicholas, Christopher, Zachary, Joshua, Carly, Elliana, Aidan, Emma, and Andrew. He will be fondly remembered by his siblings, Carol Coburn (Bill) and Kent Nelson (Jane), and by sister-in-law Sue Dreher (Virgil), as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Dave was born on July 22, 1941 in Longmont, Colorado to Margaret and Lawrence Nelson. He was a graduate of Longmont High School (great class of 1959) and Denver University B.A. (1963), M.A. (1964) and PhD (1969) where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Phi Theta Kappa. During the 1960s, he also interned in Washington D.C. with the United States Department of State before beginning his career as a Professor of History at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. When he returned to Colorado, he served as a Professor and Administrative Head at Red Rocks Community College for 34 years, moderated the Guy T. McBride Honors Program in Public Affairs at the Colorado School of Mines and led student travels throughout Europe. He also served as a property manager, President of the Lakewood Historical Society, Chairman for the Jefferson County Council for the Aging, and Deacon at Shepherd of the Hills. Additionally, he was a member of the Jefferson County Historical Commission, Denver Westerners, Applewood Kiwanis Club, and Rockland Community Church where he and Dianne were married. Dave was also an author of The Elk Creek Chronicles: From Shaffers Crossing to Pine Grove, Ryssby - The Country Church, 76 Centennial Stories and assisted in the script for Colfax Avenue: Mainstreet Colorado.
The family gives a special thank you to friends who visited and reached out to Dave and to the nurses and caretakers who lovingly cared for him at Mill Vista.
A Memorial Service in memory of Dave will be held on June 29, 2021 at 11:00 at Horan & McConaty 5303 E. County Line Rd Centennial CO 80122. Reception will follow. Those who so desire may make donations in memory of Dave to the historical site of your choice.