James F. Nelson

James Frakes Nelson was born on December 5, 1947 to Edwin and Beulah (Frakes) Nelson in Luverne, Minnesota. They lived south of Jasper where Jim started country school at District #36 Southwest. He finished his education in the Jasper School system, graduating with the class of 1966. Jim continued his education for one year at the Jackson VoTech for auto mechanics.
Jim was united in marriage to Kathleen Tuinstra in December of 1966 in Pipestone, Minnesota. Jim began his life-long career of farming; he started on a farm in Freeman, South Dakota. He then moved back to Minnesota where he went to work for Goodwin Johnson and in 1974, he worked for the Bisson's: Art, Pete and then Tom, until his retirement on December 31, 2011. On October 29, 1977, Jim was united in marriage to April Klinker in Pipestone, Minnesota at First Lutheran Church.

Jim liked to spend his time farming, hunting, fishing, gardening and playing his play station - especially Grand Theft Auto.

In July of 2013, Jim was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain and lung cancer. He was put on Hospice Care on September 16, 2013 until he died on Friday, November 22, 2013, at his home at the age of 65.

Jim is lovingly remembered by his wife, April Nelson of Jasper, Minnesota; six children, Donavan (Shannon) Nelson of Longmont, Colorado, Jeanette (Keith) Chapman of Peculiar, Missouri, Erica (Jason Romes) Nelson of San Jose, California, Morgan (BriAnna Thode) Nelson of Jasper, Minnesota, Jon (Evelyn Derby) Nelson of Ihlen, Minnesota and Todd Nelson of Jasper, Minnesota; eight grandchildren, Zachary, Amanda, Rachael, Chloe, Tayton, Ashtyn, Cora and Lita; one sister-in-law, Jan Nelson of Mason City, Iowa; and four aunts, Illa Paradis of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, Ellen Nelson of Fairbanks, Alaska, Margaret Litts of Robbinsdale, Minnesota and Annabelle Frakes of Luverne, Minnesota. Jim is preceded in death by his son, Jesse Nelson; his parents, Edwin and Beulah Nelson; and his brother, Thomas Nelson.