PAUL NELSON

1920 - 2003

Paul Edwin Nelson, beloved husband of Terry Nelson of Bow Island, passed away at the Bow Island Health Center on Saturday, June 7, 2003 at the age of 82 years.
Paul was born on July 14, 1920 in Grassy Lake, Alberta, a son born to Matthew and Janet Nelson. In 1924 the family moved from the “Sand Hills” north of Grassy to the “Scott Place” west and south of Burdett. In 1926, he moved with his family to the “Galvin Place”, located one half mile east of Morning Star School. In 1936, the family moved again to two miles east of Grassy Lake where he attended Chamberlain School. Paul attended school in Taber to finish grade twelve, and was very active in sports, especially hockey and baseball which he played often with his brother Philip. On April 26, 1942, he enlisted in the Canadian army; went overseas in May, 1942 with the #1 C.B.O.D., serving in the United Kingdom, France and Belgium. He returned to Canada in August, 1945 and was discharged in October, 1945 when the war ended. Paul married Estelle Marchand in Weyburn,
Saskatchewan on June 1, 1957. Paul and Estelle moved on the farm 5 miles north east of Bow Island to a quarter-section of partly irrigated land which was the former site of the Rosemount district school. In typical farmer survival fashion, Paul also worked on drilling rigs and had his own water trucking business.
He also worked for Standard General, George Ludwig Contractors, the County of Forty Mile, Tolestrup, Conmac, and W.A. Cook & Sons; operating various pieces of roadbuilding equipment which included operating one of the earliest motor scrapers in Western Canada, eventually becoming one of the best finishing grader operators in Alberta.
Paul will be remembered by his three children, Harvey (Kelly) Nelson of Calgary and their children Matthew, Sean, Erik and Kevin; Howard Nelson and Debbie Lloyd of Calgary and Howard’s children Bradley & Paula; Evelyn (Jason) Cutts of Calgary. Paul is also survived by his second wife, Terry Ell who he married on May 7, 1999 in Calgary and her three children Daryl (pre-deceased September 14, 2001) and Cheryl Ell of Calgary and their family; Geraldine (Jim) Kirkman of Irma, Alberta and their family; Cyril (June) Ell of Bow Island and their family.
Paul was predeceased by his first wife Estelle in 1998; his parents Matthew (1961) and Janet Nelson (1954); a brother Harvey Nelson in 1921; sister Evelyn Nelson in 1932; sister Olive Slimmon in 1976; a brother Philip Nelson in 1991 and a stepson Daryl Ell in 2001.
Relatives and friends were invited for Prayers at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 1 Street East, Bow Island on Friday, June 13, 2003 at 3:00 P.M.
The Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Saturday, June 14 at 10:30 A.M. with Reverend Thomas Vadassery Celebrant.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Paul’s name can be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 209, 542 - 7th Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 2H1.