Obituary - Larry A. Nelson

Friday, December 22, 2006
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Former Juneau resident Larry A. Nelson, 70, died Dec. 15, 2006, at Sitka Community Hospital in Sitka.

He was born April 18, 1936, in Williston, N.D., the son of Arne and Ruth (Hanson) Nelson. He graduated from high school in Williston in 1954, and attended Montana State University in Missoula. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1962. In 1959, he married Janette Haugen at the home of her parents in rural Williston. After his discharge, they lived in Vacaville and Novato, Calif.

In June 1968, they moved to Juneau and in October 1971 came to Sitka, where he was manager of the Alaska Federal Savings and Loan and then ALPS Federal Credit Union.

He loved living in Sitka and was active in community affairs. He served on the Assembly and the Planning Commission for several years, and was a member of the Sitka Elks Lodge 1662, serving as treasurer for several years.

In Petersburg, he belonged to the Moose Lodge 1092 and the Sons of Norway Lodge 2-119 Norke Venner. Active in the Sitka Lutheran Church, he served on the church council.

Due to health problems in later years, he enjoyed watching TV, particularly the shows "Millionaire" and "Jeopardy," and playing cards, cribbage and bid whist.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son; and a niece, Christie Nelson LaDestro.

He is survived by his wife, Jan Nelson, of Sitka; daughter, Tammy Antoniadis and her husband, Dean, of Juneau; grandsons, Jeremy Gray, of Spokane, Wash., and Kelsy Gray, of Juneau; brother, Arnold Nelson, of Williston; sister, Elaine Sommers and her husband, Al, of Wahpeton, N.D.; nephew, Todd Nelson and his wife, Tammi, of Dunn Loring, Va.; niece, Kari Cornwell and her husband, Dwight, of Fort Collins, Colo.; sisters-in-law, Mariann Jacobson and her husband, Bob Juelke, of Fargo, N.D., and Shirley Smith and her husband, Chuck, of Westminster, Colo.; and several other nieces and nephews.

Services were held Tuesday at the Sitka Lutheran Church in Sitka. The Rev. Jim Drury officiated. A lunch was served in the church basement following the service. A visitation was held Monday at Prewitt Funeral Home with cremation to follow.

Pallbearers were Kelsy Gray, Chuck Smith, Arnold Nelson, Ted Buckmaster, Al Sommers, Jon Lowrance and Roger Hames.

Honorary pallbearers were Jeremy Gray, Bert Stedman and his many friends. Church ushers were Ricco Mulligan and Steve Stiles.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to a favorite charity.