Obituary for Dean Nelson

Nelson, Dean Francis (Liner)

Died on January 5, 2024, at age 65 after a short battle with cancer.

Dean was born July 5, 1958, in Manistique, Michigan to Harley and Lois (Foye) Nelson. He went to Manistique High School where he graduated in 1976.

After high school, he enlisted in the Navy where he honorably served for four years stationed in Virginia Beach and sailing the Mediterranean and seeing the world on the USS Independence. After his discharge in 1982, he worked various jobs in the Detroit area for a while until finally landing back in Manistique.

Once back in Manistique, he did odd jobs and worked at the sawmill and as a woods worker for Stan Zellar. During this time, he met his wife Dawn (Russell) and they were married on May 23, 1987. They relocated to Minnesota where they eventually settled in Brooklyn Center and had one child, Erin.

After moving to Minnesota, Dean worked various welding jobs before finally getting established with Boilermaker’s Local 647 working in various power plants, and oil refineries all over the Midwest. He worked with them until his retirement in 2012.

After his retirement he spent time riding his motorcycle, going on weeks long camping odysseys with his oldest grandson Erick, playing horseshoes as the local VFW, puttering outside or agonizing over the Detroit Lions during football season and rooting for the Detroit Tigers during baseball season.

He is survived by his wife Dawn (Russell) of Brooklyn Center, MN; daughter Erin Guzman (Octavio) of Lake Elmo, MN; grandchildren Erick, Jesse, Dominic, and Adriana; three sisters Kim Berger (Larry) of Cedar Lake, IN; Karla Roddy (Bill) of Suamico, WI; Kelli Smith (Tom) of Manistique, MI; and several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by both parents Harley and Lois Nelson and one brother, Brady Nelson.

He will be cremated in Minnesota and a celebration of life/memorial will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at the VFW Post in Manistique, Michigan.