Jan Howard Nelson
VETERAN | US AIR FORCE
1935 - 2017
Early Life: Jan was born August 10, 1935, at home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, the oldest son of James Howard and Mary Leone Bennett Nelson. Jan grew up in Pleasant Grove where he loved pheasant hunting and playing the saxophone with his family’s dance band.
Life’s Work | Service | Interests: Jan served an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Sweden from 1956 to 1958. He always retained a love for all things Swedish and carried a recipe for Kol Domar (cabbage rolls) in his wallet the rest of his life. He was the biggest foodie. He loved good cheese, fresh European pastries and believed everything could be improved with a little half and half. He cherished his opportunity to work as a translator for the temple dedication in Stockholm and remained fluent in Swedish until the end. Jan will always be remembered for his subtle humor and one-liners for every occasion. Following his mission, he met and married Janice Lyn Shields. They lived all over the world as Jan served as an officer in the United States Air Force, serving in security services, intelligence, and as a chaplain in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. Jan was awarded several medals and commendations as he served in the Air Force. These included the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, an Air Force Longevity Service Award with one oak leaf cluster, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. Jan and Janice lived in Texas, Florida, Germany, Maryland, the Philippines, Labrador, Iceland, Colorado and Utah. Later, he worked as a teacher for the Department of Defense and lived in Japan and Germany before retiring in Pleasant Grove, Utah. His strong testimony that guided him his entire life gave him peace with leaving this world for the next. Jan Howard Nelson left this life on December 27, 2017 after a brief struggle with cancer. He was 82.
Survived By: His wife; all nine of their children: Jaelyn (Mark Dean), Lisa, Rebecca (Todd Raine), Paul (Wendy), Sheila (Bryon Madsen), Jared (Jeanette), Jennifer (Merrill Talbot), Erik (Rachel), and Stephanie; five of his siblings: Judy (Jerry Miller), Joye (Fred Holzer), Jewel (Lynn Stratford), Janis (Danny Bundy), and James (Evelyn). Jan leaves a wonderful legacy of 36 grandchildren and 10½ great grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: His parents and brother, Jerry.
Services: LDS Chapel | Pleasant Grove
Burial: Utah State Veterans Memorial Park
Military Honors: yes
Original Obituary Published By:
© Premier Funeral Services | Dec 2017
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
VETERAN | US AIR FORCE
1935 - 2017
Early Life: Jan was born August 10, 1935, at home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, the oldest son of James Howard and Mary Leone Bennett Nelson. Jan grew up in Pleasant Grove where he loved pheasant hunting and playing the saxophone with his family’s dance band.
Life’s Work | Service | Interests: Jan served an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Sweden from 1956 to 1958. He always retained a love for all things Swedish and carried a recipe for Kol Domar (cabbage rolls) in his wallet the rest of his life. He was the biggest foodie. He loved good cheese, fresh European pastries and believed everything could be improved with a little half and half. He cherished his opportunity to work as a translator for the temple dedication in Stockholm and remained fluent in Swedish until the end. Jan will always be remembered for his subtle humor and one-liners for every occasion. Following his mission, he met and married Janice Lyn Shields. They lived all over the world as Jan served as an officer in the United States Air Force, serving in security services, intelligence, and as a chaplain in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. Jan was awarded several medals and commendations as he served in the Air Force. These included the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, an Air Force Longevity Service Award with one oak leaf cluster, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. Jan and Janice lived in Texas, Florida, Germany, Maryland, the Philippines, Labrador, Iceland, Colorado and Utah. Later, he worked as a teacher for the Department of Defense and lived in Japan and Germany before retiring in Pleasant Grove, Utah. His strong testimony that guided him his entire life gave him peace with leaving this world for the next. Jan Howard Nelson left this life on December 27, 2017 after a brief struggle with cancer. He was 82.
Survived By: His wife; all nine of their children: Jaelyn (Mark Dean), Lisa, Rebecca (Todd Raine), Paul (Wendy), Sheila (Bryon Madsen), Jared (Jeanette), Jennifer (Merrill Talbot), Erik (Rachel), and Stephanie; five of his siblings: Judy (Jerry Miller), Joye (Fred Holzer), Jewel (Lynn Stratford), Janis (Danny Bundy), and James (Evelyn). Jan leaves a wonderful legacy of 36 grandchildren and 10½ great grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: His parents and brother, Jerry.
Services: LDS Chapel | Pleasant Grove
Burial: Utah State Veterans Memorial Park
Military Honors: yes
Original Obituary Published By:
© Premier Funeral Services | Dec 2017
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
Jan Howard Nelson
VETERAN | US AIR FORCE
1935 - 2017
Early Life: Jan was born August 10, 1935, at home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, the oldest son of James Howard and Mary Leone Bennett Nelson. Jan grew up in Pleasant Grove where he loved pheasant hunting and playing the saxophone with his family’s dance band.
Life’s Work | Service | Interests: Jan served an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Sweden from 1956 to 1958. He always retained a love for all things Swedish and carried a recipe for Kol Domar (cabbage rolls) in his wallet the rest of his life. He was the biggest foodie. He loved good cheese, fresh European pastries and believed everything could be improved with a little half and half. He cherished his opportunity to work as a translator for the temple dedication in Stockholm and remained fluent in Swedish until the end. Jan will always be remembered for his subtle humor and one-liners for every occasion. Following his mission, he met and married Janice Lyn Shields. They lived all over the world as Jan served as an officer in the United States Air Force, serving in security services, intelligence, and as a chaplain in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. Jan was awarded several medals and commendations as he served in the Air Force. These included the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, an Air Force Longevity Service Award with one oak leaf cluster, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. Jan and Janice lived in Texas, Florida, Germany, Maryland, the Philippines, Labrador, Iceland, Colorado and Utah. Later, he worked as a teacher for the Department of Defense and lived in Japan and Germany before retiring in Pleasant Grove, Utah. His strong testimony that guided him his entire life gave him peace with leaving this world for the next. Jan Howard Nelson left this life on December 27, 2017 after a brief struggle with cancer. He was 82.
Survived By: His wife; all nine of their children: Jaelyn (Mark Dean), Lisa, Rebecca (Todd Raine), Paul (Wendy), Sheila (Bryon Madsen), Jared (Jeanette), Jennifer (Merrill Talbot), Erik (Rachel), and Stephanie; five of his siblings: Judy (Jerry Miller), Joye (Fred Holzer), Jewel (Lynn Stratford), Janis (Danny Bundy), and James (Evelyn). Jan leaves a wonderful legacy of 36 grandchildren and 10½ great grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: His parents and brother, Jerry.
Services: LDS Chapel | Pleasant Grove
Burial: Utah State Veterans Memorial Park
Military Honors: yes
Original Obituary Published By:
© Premier Funeral Services | Dec 2017
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
VETERAN | US AIR FORCE
1935 - 2017
Early Life: Jan was born August 10, 1935, at home in Pleasant Grove, Utah, the oldest son of James Howard and Mary Leone Bennett Nelson. Jan grew up in Pleasant Grove where he loved pheasant hunting and playing the saxophone with his family’s dance band.
Life’s Work | Service | Interests: Jan served an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Sweden from 1956 to 1958. He always retained a love for all things Swedish and carried a recipe for Kol Domar (cabbage rolls) in his wallet the rest of his life. He was the biggest foodie. He loved good cheese, fresh European pastries and believed everything could be improved with a little half and half. He cherished his opportunity to work as a translator for the temple dedication in Stockholm and remained fluent in Swedish until the end. Jan will always be remembered for his subtle humor and one-liners for every occasion. Following his mission, he met and married Janice Lyn Shields. They lived all over the world as Jan served as an officer in the United States Air Force, serving in security services, intelligence, and as a chaplain in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. Jan was awarded several medals and commendations as he served in the Air Force. These included the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, an Air Force Longevity Service Award with one oak leaf cluster, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon. Jan and Janice lived in Texas, Florida, Germany, Maryland, the Philippines, Labrador, Iceland, Colorado and Utah. Later, he worked as a teacher for the Department of Defense and lived in Japan and Germany before retiring in Pleasant Grove, Utah. His strong testimony that guided him his entire life gave him peace with leaving this world for the next. Jan Howard Nelson left this life on December 27, 2017 after a brief struggle with cancer. He was 82.
Survived By: His wife; all nine of their children: Jaelyn (Mark Dean), Lisa, Rebecca (Todd Raine), Paul (Wendy), Sheila (Bryon Madsen), Jared (Jeanette), Jennifer (Merrill Talbot), Erik (Rachel), and Stephanie; five of his siblings: Judy (Jerry Miller), Joye (Fred Holzer), Jewel (Lynn Stratford), Janis (Danny Bundy), and James (Evelyn). Jan leaves a wonderful legacy of 36 grandchildren and 10½ great grandchildren.
Preceded In Death By: His parents and brother, Jerry.
Services: LDS Chapel | Pleasant Grove
Burial: Utah State Veterans Memorial Park
Military Honors: yes
Original Obituary Published By:
© Premier Funeral Services | Dec 2017
Bio compiled by: Annie Duckett Hundley
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