Thomas Earl Nelson

passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle,Washington. He was born on April 5, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois to Anton and Rose Nelson. He was 84 years of age.Tom moved to Bainbridge Island in 1940 and graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1944. He attended the University of Washington. During his career, Tom worked as a printer for the Seattle Post Intelligencer and The Seattle Times. He was a veteran of World War II with the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged from both. He was a member of the Bainbridge Island Sportsman Club, Bainbridge Island Pee Wee Football Assoc., Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary and the Printers Typographical Union. He was also a member of the Coffee Club of Rollingbay, a group of men he thought very highly of. As a youngman, Tom worked as a logger in the woods of the Olympic Peninsula, Greys Harbor and Bainbridge Island. This love of woodcutting continued throughout his life. In his retirement, Tom would at times cut up to three cords of wood a week. He was very proud of his family. He was an avid sports fan, football being his favorite sport. Reading was also a passion and he maintained an extensive library. He read four newspapers a day and always had an opinion about current events and politics. The way to his heart was listening to "Ole Blue Eyes", Frank Sinatra. Frank was apart of any family function. Tom is survived by his beloved wife Mary Medalia Nelson of Bainbridge Island, children; Thomas E. Nelson Jr. (Carol) of Woodinville, WA, Michael Nelson (Cheryl) of Bainbridge Island, Mary Ann Nelson Calles (Adolfo) of Los Angeles, CA, Gregory Nelson (Anita) of St. Charles, Illinois, Paul Nelson (Jennifer) of San Clemente, CA, William Nelson of Bainbridge Island, Joan Nelson Lockyear (Tom) of Poulsbo, WA and his dear grandchildren; Ryan, Angela, Robby, Andrew, Matthew, Peter, Julia, Fito, Christopher, Kyle, Samuel, Katelyn and Tommy. Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visitation on Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 9:30-10:30 AM, followed by the Recitation of The Rosary at 10:30 AM and The Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM all at St. Cecilia Catholic Church on Bainbridge Island. Interment will be private. A reception will follow at Edna's Beach Cafe, 4738 Lynwood Center Rd NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.Memorial contributions can be made to St. Cecilia Catholic Church, The Seattle Children's Hospital/Uncompensated Care Fund or The University of Washington Foundation- c/o - Neurological Surgery Discreationary Fund, 815 Mercer Street, C-5, Box 358045, Seattle, WA 98195.