Harold Albert Nelson Sr.'s Obituary
Harold Albert Nelson Sr. 91 of Ripley, Maryland, went to Heaven on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Harold was the third of five children born to Jennes C. Nelson Sr. and Mildred Inez (Farrell) Nelson on August 8, 1932, in Ripley, Maryland. At a very young age he worked on his family's farm raising tobacco, chickens, and sawing lumber on the family sawmill.
He graduated from LaPlata high school. He worked for the Navy Department at the Naval Powder Factory in Indian Head, Maryland until 1951. He served in the US Army from 1953 to October 12, 1955. The National Guard of Maryland ORD C and DC National Guard November 1955 to June 1956. He became a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 77 as a crane operator. He got injured on the job in 1988 which ended his career in January 1989.
His new career began shortly after his retirement by caring for his new grandchild Nikki, with the help of his stepdaughter Gina. His whole life from that time on to his death revolved around Nikki, her two boys Tallen and Layden and all his many other grandchildren and great children.
As a boy growing up, he loved hunting deer, squirrels, ducks, crabbing and fishing. He was recognized for killing the first legal deer in Charles County. He enjoyed fishing with his two sons anywhere they could find ponds, swamps, rivers and creeks and the Potomac River. He and his brothers used to walk from Ripley all the way to the Port Tobacco River to fish and catch crabs and soft shell crabs. Occasionally, they would bring turtles or frogs home for their mother to cook. He liked roller skating at a rink when he was a teen and of course riding his Indian motorcycle. In his later years he and his wife enjoyed taking annual trips to Prince Edward Island Canada. They loved it so much, they built a home there, and would visit a few months out of the year enjoying everything PEI had to offer. Harold was an avid sports fan. He liked watching the Redskins and The Senators baseball team. He and his wife always would watch the Nationals baseball team on TV but of course his main love was seeing his many grandchildren and great grand children.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, his brother Jennes Nelson Jr. Luis Nelson, sister Betty Nelson Ellis, Stepdaughter Gina Lopes, son-in-law Paul Grieninger, daughter-in-law Pamela Nelson.
He is survived by his wife, Caroline Nelson, and his brother Frankie Nelson, his three children by his first wife Claudia (Deceased), daughter Laura Annette Dempsey (Bo) and her two children Maxi-Lynn Dempsey (Ky) Tammy Ballantine (Jeremy) plus seven grandchildren; sons Harold Nelson Jr. five children and eleven grandchildren; Milton Edward Nelson with three children, stepson Billy Curtis (Ashley) plus four grandchildren; son Jennes Christian Nelson (Sarah), daughter Amy Davis (Jonathan) with baby Madelyn Willow on the way in February. He was blessed with three stepchildren from his wife Caroline. Gina Lopes (Dorian) with their three children Jennifer Hill (Bryan), Jessica Goin (Terrence) and John Lopes (Jennifer) and six great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; Joseph Interlandi and Carrie Grieninger (Paul) with their two children Nikki Grieninger (John) Jesse James Grieninger plus three great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at the Williams Funeral Home on Tuesday December 19, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed by a viewing on Wednesday December 20 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of our Savior in Bryans Road, Maryland. followed by the service at 10 a.m. Interment at Trinity Memorial Gardens in Waldorf, Maryland at noon followed by a repass at the Lutheran Church of our Savior.
Pallbearers – Junior Nelson, Eddie Nelson, Willie Nelson, Chris Nelson, Jesse Grieninger and Johnny Baldwin
In leu of flowers the family request you can donate to the Lutheran Church of our Savior 2365 Indian Head Hwy Bryans Road Md 20616 or any favorite charitable organizations of your choice.
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