Bruce Lee Nelson

Bruce Lee Nelson, D.D.S. ascended to heaven the morning of December 31, 2025. He passed at home, peacefully in his sleep, from angioblastic T-cell lymphoma at the age of 74.
Bruce was born in Ames, Iowa in June of 1951 to Frank Eugene and Carolyn Jane Nelson as the youngest of three boys. The family moved to Tucson, Arizona around 1960, where Dr. F. Nelson was a professor at the University of Arizona. After graduating from Catalina High School, Bruce attended the U of A and met his future wife, Sheryl Phelps. He then attended dental school at Northwestern University in Chicago and married Sherry in 1976. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona where Bruce practiced family dentistry for 47 years before retiring in 2024.
Bruce was an active member of various organizations throughout his time in Phoenix, including the Bronco Club, Sheriff's Posse, Optimist Club, Arizona Dental Association, Ducati Club, and Cobra Club. He had a black belt in Kenjutsu Japanese sword and was inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame for Japanese swordsmanship. Bruce also loved classic cars, the outdoors, and supporting "his girls" and their interests. He is survived by his wife Sherry, daughters Krystine and Kandice, son-in-law Max, grandson David, brothers Bill and Craig, sister-in-law Janelle, and brother-in-law Kip.
No services are planned. In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be made to cancer research. Please consider donating blood at your local blood bank.