Andrew J. ’Jim’ Nelson

Jim Andrew James Nelson, 82, of Moorhead, MN died Tuesday, July 25th, 2006 in the Palliative Care Unit of Meritcare Hospital, Fargo, ND.Jim was born on June 10th, 1924 in Fargo, ND to Andrew and Clara Nelson. He grew up and attended school in Clay County. He also was active in the Morken Township 4-H and was their first president. He served in the US Navy in 1945-1946 with an honorable discharge. He farmed near Felton, MN until 1953. On March 20th, 1949, he married Audrey Anderson. In 1953, they moved to Moorhead.Jim was a man of few words. He went about his business quietly. Two words describe Jim Nelson- family and work.Jim worked for 30 years at Western Paper Company in Fargo, ND. Western Paper was one of those places where nobody ever quit. People retired from there with 30 or 40 years of service. It was there that he made most of his lasting friendships. Western was truly a family. They were there for all of life's celebrations and tragedies. Jim also worked as an orderly for the Fargo Nursing Home for 20 years. He worked every weekend and most of his annual vacation for those 20 years. He was proud of the care that he gave each of his patients. He was the ultimate caregiver. He was the one that you would want to care for your loved ones in a nursing home.Jim worked numerous part time jobs after his retirement from Western and Fargo Nursing Home to keep himself busy and occupied. He was always encouraged to develop hobbies for his retirement years. Work was Jim's hobby. He never wanted to retire. Even a few weeks before his final hospitalization, he said that he wished that he could find something to do for a few hours. After he truly retired, Jim and Audrey would go to IHOP for breakfast almost every day. The IHOP crew called them "mom and dad". In the last month of his life, many of the IHOP crew came to the hospital to give him encouragement to get better. It was a great joy to him that the IHOP crew would come to see him in the hospital. His devotion to family was complete with no thought of himself. All you had to do was to mention that you needed help with a task. He would say, "I will do that" with no thought on how it would impact his life. He was the one you could always rely on. He instilled his values in us all and taught us that above all, family comes first and is your source of joy and strength. We all hope to live in a way that honors and celebrates him. In 1995, he experienced what no parent should ever experience- the loss of a child. Beverly was 40 when she died. He had used all the skills that he had acquired at the nursing home to care for Bev. He went to the hospital every day never missing to see his child. He said after Bev passed away, that he thought of her every day. It was something that he never got over.He is survived by his loving wife; Audrey, a son, Paul Jacqie, Fargo; three daughters, Sharon Jackson, Sandy Nelson, both West Fargo, Eileen Roy VanCleave, Wahpeton, ND. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Travis Jackson of Burnsville, MN, Seth Jackson of St. Louis Park, MN, Joshua, Taylor and Lexi Jackson of West Fargo, ND , Jessica VanCleave of Wahpeton, ND, Christopher Turner of Arvada, CO and Luke Nelson of Sioux Falls, SD; and by 3 great-grand children, Zachary, Alex and Emmajene Turner of Arvada, CO. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Beverly Nelson, son in law, Mark Jackson, 2 brothers, Edmond and Casper, a sister Clarice Sprague.