John Nelson

John Vincent Nelson, a Flathead Valley resident for many years, was peacefully called to heaven on June 24, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He died of natural causes.

He was born Aug. 26, 1920, in Havre to Mary Grace and William T. Nelson. John grew up in the Flathead area, living in Coram, Whitefish and Kalispell.

He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 and enlisted in the Army in December 1939. He served his country in Corregidor, Philippine Islands. John spent 41 months as a POW in a Japanese prison camp.

John worked for 30 years with the Great Northern and Burlington Northern railroads as an accounting clerk. He was a Little League baseball coach and a Babe Ruth coach, and he umpired the American Legion baseball.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church. He served as president of the Clerks Union, was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the VFW and American Legion, where he served as past commander of the X-POW Montana chapter. He also was past commander of the Defenders of Bataan-Corregidor.

John will be greatly missed. His devotion to his country and legacy of patriotism will not die with him. He may be gone, but he will not be forgotten. May we all carry the baton of freedom, that came not free, from heroes like John V. Nelson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters and brother.

John is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rose Marie in Kalispell; daughter Morna Gilbert and husband Don, in Spokane, Wash.; sons Alan Nelson, in Moses Lake, Wash., and Roger Nelson, in Kalispell; two grandsons; five granddaughters; four great granddaughters; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and "George," the family Maltese, who knew him as "Gampy."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls or to the Shriner's Childrens Hospital transportation fund.

Memorial services took place July 2, 2008, at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish with military honors provided by the United Veterans of the Flathead Valley.