John P. Nelson

Nelson, John P.

John P. Nelson, age 70, died on Wednesday, May 17 of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Ashwaubenon. John was born on November 21, 1946 in Oshkosh WI son of the late Jane (Procknow) and Paul R. Nelson. He graduated from Oshkosh West in 1964. After serving in the US Army National Guard for 6 years, he was hired by the Appleton Police Department on May 4, 1968. John was a proud member of the APD for 32 years He began his career as a Beat Walker, moved on to Cruiser Driver, and the Call Command Center. He was promoted to Lieutenant in charge of Investigative Services. In 2000 he retired from the APD Community Resource Unit.

During his law enforcement career, he was a member of the SWAT Team and the Honor Guard. John belonged to the Appleton Police Benevolent Association, the Appleton Police Professional Association, and the Wisconsin Police Professional Association. He was honored with the Meritorious Service Award in 1996. In addition, he was an adjunct instructor at Fox Valley Technical College teaching both Motorcycle Rider Safety, and Traffic Safety School.

In 2004, John began his second career at Kobussen Bus Company. During his 14 years as a coach driver, he travelled locally, nationally and internationally. His favorite trip was the 2008 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. To the delight of his family and friends, these trips provided John with many experiences that brought his embellished storytelling to a whole new level. Among his favorite things to do were riding his slingshot with Barb, sailing with Eric and Saralyn, spending time with his grandchildren, watching Packer and Brewer games, travelling and cooking. His grandchildren especially loved his homemade doughnuts.

John is survived by his wife of 46 years, Barbara (Baeten) Nelson, his children, Eric (Kelly), and their children, Gabrielle, Silas, and Titus, Tucson, AZ; and daughter, Saralyn (Santos) Paredes and their children Ryann, Paitynn and Santos (Jr.), Union Grove, WI. He is further survived by three sisters, Dr. Christine Nelson (Susan Pescar), Visalia, CA, Mary Wing (Brad), Hartford, WI and Paula Hayes, Corona, CA; brothers-in-law, Wayne (Joyce) Malcore, Tomahawk, WI; Peter (Linda) Baeten, Green Bay, WI; sisters-in-law, Donna Theroux (Richard), Plover, WI and Paula Theroux (Robert), Lakewood, WI. He is survived by many nieces and nephews, including special nephew, Jeffry Malcore (Tami) Neenah, WI and niece, Lisa Malcore (Bill), Germantown, WI as well as many friends. John was further preceded in death by his mother and father-in-law; aunts and uncles; and sister-in-law, Ann Malcore; and nephew, Joel Theroux.

Memorial Service for John will be 11:00 AM on Friday, May 26, 2017 at VALLEY FUNERAL HOME, with Fr. Dean Dombroski officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday morning beginning at 9:00 until the 11:00 AM service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is established to support the APD K9 Program. To make a gift in honor of John, go to https://donor.cffoxvalley.org/Make-A-Gift and select Appleton Police K9 Program Fund from the Designation drop-down menu.

John's family wishes to acknowledge the support of the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department, Ashwaubenon Department of Public Safety, and the Trauma Team and ICU staff at St Vincent Hospital, Green Bay, especially Sherriee, RN. We would like to express our gratitude to the Appleton Police Department and Kobussen Bus Company for their assistance during this difficult time.

John, you will be dearly missed by your family. Ride on!