Charles G. Nelson

Charles (Chuck) G. Nelson, 94, passed away in Boise on December 17, 2025 surrounded by family. He was born in Minnesota on November 25, 1931 to Ernest and Myrtle Nelson.

After high school, Chuck worked on a farm and in a paper mill. Soon the draft for the Korean War was threatening and he enlisted in the Army in March of 1951. After basic training at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, he was assigned to Fox Company, 32nd Regiment, 7th Infantry Division and sent to serve on the front lines in Korea for eight months. After returning safely to the States, he completed his Army service as a SFC Supply Sergeant at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

In the fall of 1954, Chuck enrolled in the forestry program at the University of Minnesota, which led to a lifelong career with the U.S. Forest Service. Following graduation, he married the love of his life, Donna Simmons, in the fall of 1959 and they started a life together "out West" in Idaho and Montana.

Chuck's fulltime career started on the Nez Perce National Forest with a variety of jobs in the early years -- fighting fires, cruising timber, and administrating timber sales in several locations including Grangeville and Elk City. In 1962 he was transferred to the Coeur d' Alene Nat'l Forest near Kellogg and then moved to Libby, Montana in 1966. In this assignment he was the Fire Control Officer for the Kootenai Nat'l Forest during the construction of the Libby Dam which involved building a 450 foot high dam, about 100 miles of mountain highways, relocating 60 miles of Great Northern railroad tracks, and clearing a 30,000 acre reservoir.

In 1970, he returned to the Nez Perce as the district ranger at Elk City for several years before transferring to Grangeville to develop long range plans for the forest. His final assignment involved another move, this time to the Boise Nat'l Forest where he retired as the Chief Land Management Planner. After retiring from the Forest Service, Chuck worked part-time as a consultant for private companies seeking permits on national forest lands.

Chuck and Donna continued to live in Boise when they retired. They were active members of Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene in Meridian, where Chuck was instrumental in starting the church garden which continues to provide fresh produce for the Meridian Food Bank. Chuck also served on the building committee when the church decided to purchase land south of I-84 and develop and build its current facility. One of the many projects he was involved with was the construction of the "sound clouds" to hide the speakers on the ceiling of the new sanctuary. With a heart for summer Bible camps for children, Chuck spent many hours volunteering at the Nazarene church's Trinity Pines Camp and Conference Center near Cascade.

In addition to sharing his gardening skills, Chuck was a talented woodworker who built furniture for his family and occasionally for auctions benefiting his church, Trinity Pines and the Meridian Food Bank.

Chuck is survived by his three children and their families: Dawn Marie Woodward (Rob) of Springfield, Oregon, Kara Tilden (Mike) of Fairway, Kansas, and Paul Nelson (Becky) of Boise; six grandchildren - Michael (Natalie) Woodward, Matthew (Ashleigh) Woodward, Thomas Tilden, Jack Tilden, Mikayla Nelson & Megan Nelson; three great grandsons – Jude, Griff & Radley Woodward. He is also survived by his sister, Lynn Kenops (Darrel) of Boise and numerous nieces and nephews. Chuck was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, his parents, sister Kathryn and two nephews.

A viewing will be held 10:00-11:00 AM Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Cloverdale Funeral Home (1100 N. Cloverdale, Boise) followed by a military internment at 11:30 AM. The Celebration of Life is at 2:00 PM at Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene (150 W Maestra St., Meridian).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Trinity Pines Camp (55 SW 5th Avenue, Suite 100, Meridian, ID 83642)