Jeff Dale Nelson

Jeff (Jefferson) Dale Nelson, 47, Duluth, unexpectedly went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 27, 2008. Jeff loved to be with family and friends. He was a quick wit with a joke, a tease or a one-liner. He had a zest for life. Jeff graduated from Duluth Central in 1979. He attended UMD and graduated from DAVTI, where he was Student Senate President and was voted Student of the year. Jeff held many interesting and diverse jobs, which include restaurant management, having a lot of fun working with his friends at the old Sunset Lounge, caring for autistic children at Northwoods Children Services, caring for disabled adults, managing USA video, beverage director of the Duluth Dukes, distribution at SDMC, and was currently employed at the DECC and at Choices Unlimited. Jeff liked to organize employee events, contests and play jokes on co-workers. He would turn a boring work day into a good time. Jeff enjoyed helping people and being involved in the community. He liked to volunteer and help out where he was needed; a search and rescue mission, a fund raiser, a community event. He was co-captain of Grandma's marathon 7 mile station for several years, including the years he ran the half marathon. He served as an officer at the Elks, on the SMDC employee emergency fund and on the employee service council. He was considered 'the go to man' if something needed to get done. Jeff did a great job planning and organizing events, from walkathons, fund raisers, canoe trips, softball tournaments, and golf outings.Jeff loved sports. He played many sports and coached at Lower Chester, Glen Avon and Central Little league. If he was not participating in an event, he was involved in planning one. He loved following Pro, College and local teams. Jeff enjoyed being outdoors, camping, fishing, canoeing, golfing, working in the yard and being in the woods. His hobbies were diverse from listening to Elvis and Willie, cooking and canning, creating handmade gifts for people, teasing Packer Fans, watching old Westerns, planning an event, teasing his little cousins, and having a good time. Jeff was very generous, adventurous, spiritual and intelligent. He always had big ideas and plans, which he approached with great enthusiasm. Jeff's sense of hope was encouraged by his new outlook on life which he found through his A.A. program. His motto was 'whenever you can help people, you should.' He lived by those words and many people benefited from Jeff's life. Jefferson is preceded in death by his grandparents and his beloved namesake, uncle Dale. Jeff will lovingly be remembered by his mother and step- father, Joanne and Ken Docteur; his father, Jim Nelson; brothers, Jay and Jon; sister, Jodi (Brock Pelzl) all of Duluth; step-sisters, Beth (Joe Dennison) Docteur of Paris, Amanda (Nathan) Hestwood of Eagan; step-brother, Andy (Kate) Docteur of Shakopee; three nephews and two nieces. Jeff had a big heart for all his loving aunts, uncles, cousins and his Polish connections north of the border. His memory will be cherished by his dog Bucca; many life love friends and his wonderful A.A. support group who help him turn his life around and live one day at a time. VISITATION:5 to 7 p.m. Friday in Dougherty Funeral Home, continuing Saturday one hour prior to the service in the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, 2801 E 4th St. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E. 2nd St, Duluth, MN 55805, 218-727-3555.
This obituary was originally published in the Duluth News Tribune.