Douglas "Doug" A. Nelson

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary 2060 Commerce Drive North Mankato, MN 56003 Douglas Allen Nelson was born on January 1, 1944 in Graceville, Minnesota. Doug died April 25, 2015 surrounded by his family and the love of friends near and far. A service to commemorate and honor the man we knew and loved will be on Friday, May 1st at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 30th, from 4:00 pm. to 7:00 pm. at Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato and will continue one hour prior at the church on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato, Hospice. Doug was preceded in death by a whole host of family members who loved him and knew his worth, including his mother and father, stepfather, and two brothers. He grew up in Sisseton, South Dakota and as a kid loved neighborhood pick-up games of baseball and playing basketball on the Sisseton High School basketball team where he was a quality point guard who led the team in assists. This trait of assisting others to rise and realize their best would continue throughout his lifetime. Doug attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota where he met his wife, Kathy. They were married for 48 years and have two grown children, Sara and Matt. Doug had a sterling work ethic and was deeply committed and proud of the time he spent working for Jostens and, most recently, Gopher Sport. Doug loved spending time boating on the St. Croix River with his family and friends where he could appreciate the gifts of good company, sun, wind, and water. Doug was a man who led by example and although we appreciated and loved him well, it is in his absence that we realize what a powerful impact he had on us all. He will be profoundly missed. We are better for having known him.