John D. Nelson

John D. Nelson (Desi) died March 27, 2015 at his home in Phoenix with his children at his side.

During World War II, Desi was born in Adelaide, Australia, on April 30, 1943 to Helen and Charles Nelson. In 1945 at the end of the war his mother brought Desi and his sister Maxine by boat from Australia to the U.S. and went on to live in Whitefish were their dad lived. Desi was a Whitefish boy from then on, attending school through high school and working for the railroad in Whitefish and Missoula.

In 1967, Desi served honorably in the U.S. Army with a year tour of duty in Vietnam and was honorably discharged in 1968. He would later receive a full medical disability for his military service.

After his military service, Desi traveled the world going back to his birth place in Australia and continuing to travel through Asia ending up in Munich, Germany, where he met and married Eileen Lewendowski. Eventually they would move back to Missoula were Desi worked for Burlington Northern and Montana Rail Link.

Desi and Eileen had their first child, Angie, in July of 1977, and a son, Michael, in 1981, and raised their two children in Lolo. Eileen and Desi divorced in 1994.

He retired medically from the railroad in 1995.

Desi remarried in 1996 to Bonnie Stickney. They then moved to Phoenix where he enjoyed the desert sun until his passing.

Desi will be remembered by his family and friends for his charm and devious whit. His love of sports and his great company when it was time to party.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; grandchildren, Bella and William; his loving children, Michael and Angie Nelson; and his mother, Helen, all living in Phoenix; his sister, Georgia (Lew) McCready of Whitefish; brother, Chuck Nelson and wife Mary Zartman of Bozeman; sister, Michelle (Tom) Peterson of Bainbridge Island, Wash.; his wonderful nieces and nephews that he loved so much, Frank Lamb, Darin Lamb, Trena Boyd, Travis Broussou, Stephen and Bryan Peterson; and many relatives in Australia.

He is preceded in death by his father, Charles, and sister, Maxine Lamb.

We hope Desi has reunited with his dad who he always missed throughout his life.

A graveside service will be held July 31, 2015 at the Whitefish Cemetery at 2 p.m. with a celebration of his life to follow at the VFW in Whitefish.

If you would like to make donations in Desi’s name, please make them at your local VA or hospice center.