Rene Nelson

Rene Nelson 1931 ~ 2004  Valdemar Rene Nelson was born June 6, 1931, in Cottonwood Utah to Irvin T. Nelson and Kathleen Bagley Nelson. He died February 28, 2004 of complications following a stroke. Rene graduated from Granite High School in 1949. He attended the University of Utah where he received bachelor degrees in English, Education, and Psychology, as well a Juris Doctorate.He served his country in the Army during the Korean War as a cryptographer. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rene held several callings throughout his life, including a fulltime mission to the New England states and Maritime Provinces of Canada. He served in the LDS church worldwide emergency radio network. He married the love of his life, Audrey Kirton of Draper Utah June 5, 1957. Together they raised five beautiful children in their home in Historic Cottonwood. Rene loved to sing and shared his talents whenever he could. He sang with the Utah Summer Operas and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. His children loved to hear him sing to them and each has a favorite musical memory of their father. He is known to his family as "A singer of songs." Rene began his professional life as a teacher at Bingham High School in Copperton, Utah and East Bakersfield High School in California. He was awarded a clerkship position for the Utah State Supreme Court. He began his law practice in Utah in 1962; first in general practice, and then in specialized practices of family law, personal injury law and insurance law. He was a member of the Utah State Bar, and the U.S. Federal Bar. He served as Summit County Attorney, Salt Lake County Deputy Attorney, Utah Legislative Attorney and Pro Tem Circuit Court Judge. Public service was important to him. He served on the Salt Lake County Youth Protection Committee; the Holladay Cottonwood Community Council; Utah Association of Community Councils; and Legal Subcommittee, Citizens for Positive Community Values. After he retired, he volunteered his time as an attorney for Utah Legal Services. In the late fifties and through to the middle seventies Rene worked closely with the legislature, PTA, youth committees and church leaders to slow the onslaught of indecent forms of printed media into Utah. For these efforts Rene received a special recognition from the Utah State Legislature, and a special recognition by both Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon. In addition to his family and his music, Rene's other great love was Lake Powell. He loved to take his family and friends to the lake whenever he could and enjoy the beauty of the red rocks while on his boat. Even in his last days, when he could barely speak, his thoughts were of planning his next trip to Lake Powell. Rene was preceded in death by his parents; and his twin daughters, Anne and Gerrie. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Audrey; his children, Audrey Lyn, Kathe McFarlane (Mac), Cindi Rogers (Russell), Wendy Fuller (Ross), Rene Jr. (CoryEllen); and his nine grandchildren, Miles and Reena Rogers, Lillian Kate and Julian Kai McFarlane, Seth, Jared and Anna Fuller, and Noah and Enoch Nelson. Funeral services will be held Thursday March 4, at 11 a.m. at the Cottonwood 14th ward chapel, 2090 East 5165 South. A viewing will be held Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Cottonwood Memorial Mortuary 4670 South Highland Drive, and one hour prior to the funeral.