Mark L. Nelson

Mark L. Nelson
Lansing, Michigan
Formerly of Bay City, Michigan
Mark Lloyd Nelson, a native of Bay City, passed away on December 12, 2025. Mark was born on July 24,1947 to Otis Jr. and Eva Nelson. His childhood was idyllic-living close to the Bay City State Park and surrounded by siblings, cousins, and friends eager to join in the exploration of nearby fields, ponds, and wetlands. He graduated from Handy High School in 1965 and went on to attend classes at Delta College.
Mark was drafted in 1966 as the war in Vietnam was intensifying. Assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, he arrived in early 1968 at the Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon during the Tet Offensive. It was an ominous start to his tour of duty in Vietnam-a tour that ended abruptly later that year when he received multiple wounds in battle and was honorably discharged. Over the next few years, Mark worked on scuba-related construction in the Florida Keys and took a brief dive into electoral politics back home.
Beginning in 1975, Mark devoted himself to the care of his younger brother, David, who was injured in an automobile-bicycle accident. Following Dave's death in 1978, Mark spent the next several decades working with his father on the invention, marketing and distribution of fuel conditioning products through their company, Polar Molecular Corporation (PMC). PMC experienced considerable success in both domestic and international markets for nearly two decades.
During this time, Mark met and married Marilyn Ennis, moved to Marilyn's hometown of Denver, and had a son, David. Mark and Marilyn took full advantage of Colorado's slopes and even ventured to Austria for skiing. Eventually divorced, Mark stayed in his beloved Denver and spent many enjoyable years there with partner, Sharon Minnock, until her death in 2015.
Over the last decade, Mark has had to contend with the long-term, slowly emerging consequences of exposure to agent orange during his time in Vietnam. In 2020, he moved to Lansing, MI to be near his sister, Joan, and since 2023 has received exceptional care for Parkinson's Dementia at the Ingham Medical Care Facility.
Mark was pre-deceased by his parents, Otis and Eva and brother David. He is survived by his son Lt. David Nelson, USN, sister Joan Nelson of Lansing, nephew Peter Nelson of Brooklyn, NY, and many loving cousins and friends.
A memorial service will be held at Squires Funeral Home, 211 N. Henry St. Bay City, Michigan on Friday, December 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM. Visitation will run from 10:00 AM until the service time at noon. A luncheon will follow, after which, visitors are welcome to join the family at Floral Gardens for interment of Mark's cremains.
Please feel free to share a story, photo or leave an expression of sympathy on Marks tribute wall of his obituary @ squiresfuneralhome.com