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Nelson Rossig Obituary

Born at Bucksport on December 3, 1908 to Richard and Nettie Rossig, Nelson Rossig passed away Saturday, September 11, 2010 at his home in Eureka. He was an Elder of the Wiyot tribe. As a young boy he was taught to fish and hunt by his Uncle Jerry James. He enjoyed every kind of bounty the waters of the north coast have to offer. Crab, mussels, abalone, eels, and of course salmon and steelhead are just some of the treasures he enjoyed. He got his first taste of fly fishing as a teenager with Joe Dickerson and developed his talent into an art form he enjoyed all his life. Not only did he tie his own flies, but he had an innate ability to 'read' the river and know exactly where to cast his fly. As a young man he went into the refrigeration business in San Francisco but as rewarding as that business was, he longed to be closer to the rivers he grew up on and in 1947, he moved back to Eureka to make his home with his wife, Emily. He worked as a longshoreman for many years, retiring at the age of 65 to enjoy his fly fishing hobby full time. Nelson served on the Humboldt County Grand Jury and also served on the Fish and Game Advisory Committee. He will always be known as an advocate for local fishermen and for fighting to maintain access to the rivers for sportsmen. Nelson was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Emily Jane Wilson Rossig. He is survived by his niece Claire Vinson and her husband Eddie Vinson of Buda, Texas, who served as his dedicated caregivers for the last four months of his life. He is also survived by his sister, Irene Carlson, his sister-in-law, Leta Wilson, his nieces and nephews: Velva Angell, Henry Cooper, Albert James II, Myra Lamberson Lowe, Fred Lamberson, Jr., Colleen Guido, Dorothy Long, Elmer Rossig, Bill Rossig, Emil Pawlus, Richard Pawlus, Jill Kovacovich, Susan Hubbard, Rew E. Wilson, Sam Wilson, Shawn Wilson, Nancy Kelly Stevens, Kacey Kelly Davis, Patrick Kelly, Jennifer Wilson Chapman, Carolyn Wilson Crnich, Jeffrey Wilson, Christopher G. Wilson, and his Godson, Paul Angell as well as three more generations of nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind a whole river bar full of fishing buddies including Forrest Willis, Harold Neville, and Conrad Calimpong who comforted and amused him with fishing memories during his last months. Special thanks also to the members of the Yurok Tribe who so generously sent acorns, smoked salmon, eels and sturgeon when those were the only things Nelson wanted to eat. A graveside service for his family and friends will be held at Ocean View Cemetery on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 1 p.m. Please sign the guest book at www.times-standard.com, click on obits.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Times-Standard from Sep. 14 to Sep. 15, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
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5 Entries

September 16, 2010

Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday, unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear.
We are sorry for your loss.
We just found out yesterday that Nelson had passed away. He had an amazing 102 years!
Arla and the staff of the Blue Lake Rancheria.

September 15, 2010

Sorry for your loss. Nelson was a great man that will be sorely missed.
Leonard "Spam" (Howard Logan's grandson) and Carolyn Ferris

John Guggenbickler

September 15, 2010

Nelson taught me how to double haul back in the 70's at the Singly hole. I stuck a number 4 comet in the top of my head and he wandered over and asked if I needed any help. I think so was my reply and he promply jerked the fly out of the top of my head. He was one of the few great fly fishermen that prowled the banks of the Eel. Many fond memories of him.

September 15, 2010

in our fly-fishing fraternity, nelson was the last of the mohicans, that is to say, he was the last of the pioneer eel river flyfishermen.we will all miss him ,steve rosenberg

Gary and Jennifer Chapman

September 15, 2010

Celebrating a long life lived well.

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