Obituary of Thomas (Tom) Carl Nelson

Thomas Carl Nelson
December 25, 1935 – February 22, 2025

Tom was born on December 25, 1935, at home on the farm south of Veteran at 20 minutes to midnight; his lifelong comment being, had he been born 20 minutes later he would have been a boxer.  He was the only son born to Gunnar and Lillian Nelson with two older sisters, Donna and Arlene, and a younger sister, Elsie.

Tom took his schooling at the Veteran School and later attended college at the Olds School of Agriculture.

Tom started driving truck for various truckers hauling cattle to the stockyards in Calgary and also hauling grain to various destinations.  He also worked up north in the Great Slave Lake area hauling logs.  Tom spent two years working for the Parks in the Lake Louise and Jasper area; some of his jobs during this time were snowplowing and building roads.  He grew to love the mountains and always had a strong pull to go back there multiple times a year.  He eventually moved back home and worked with Special Areas as a grader operator and then took over his parent’s farm and began his farming career.

In 1966 he married his lifelong love, Sophie Ekrol. They expanded their farm in 1967 when they bought the Emil Bossert farm south of Coronation.  Several other parcels were added throughout the years.  They also expanded their family by four; Ronnie, Johnnie, Debbie and David completed their lives.  Tom and Sophie worked hard together both on the farm and raising their family.  Farming and cattle were their way of life, which was quickly passed down to their children, especially Ronnie and Johnnie and their sons.  Tom’s hope was that the family farms would continue to grow and prosper in the family for generations to come, carrying on the family legacy.  Tom was very fascinated by the ever-changing technology and always had to experiment with the newest ways of completing jobs and tasks.

While life on the farm was busy, Tom valued and enjoyed time away as well.  Tom and Sophie enjoyed many vacations abroad.  Many family camping and fishing trips were enjoyed in the summer, while skiing trips were enjoyed every winter going back to his beloved mountains.  Tom took great pride in taking his family on these trips and created many special memories with his children and grandchildren.  Some of his grandchildren’s fondest memories are these times spent with their Grandpa.

Tom was a very loving husband, dad, and grandpa.  Family was always his priority.  His love, support, and dedication to his family and friends will forever be remembered and cherished. 

Tom is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Sophie Nelson; children: Ronnie (Dina) Nelson, Debbie (Dave) Wales, and daughter-in-law Tracy Nelson; grandchildren: Ryan (Alyssa) Wales, Cody Wales (Julie), Hailey Wales, Zane (Miranda) Nelson, Emma (James) Anderson, Jaron Nelson, and Jace Nelson, Taylor (Mitch) Gillespie; great grandchildren: Bennett Nelson, Lincoln Wales, Brynne Anderson, Barrett and Cohen Gillespie.  Sisters: Arlene (George) Sproule, Elsie (Nester) Nydokus, and brother-in-law Johan Ekrol, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Tom is predeceased by parents, Gunnar and Lillian Nelson, sons, David Nelson (1990) and Johnnie Nelson (2022), mother and father-in-law, Lars and Olivia Ekrol, sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Erwin Bobroske, and sister-in-law Mary Ekrol.

We, Tom’s family, would like to extend a very heartfelt THANK YOU to the staff at the Coronation Long Term Care for the excellent care that he received over the last 8 years.

A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

If desired, donations in memory of Tom can be made directly to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta, 10430 61 Ave NW #306, Edmonton, AB T6H 1M4, or to The Coronation Long Term Care Facility, 5000 Municipal Road, Coronation, Alberta, T0C 1C0.

Hanna Funeral Services has been entrusted with the care and the arrangements, 403-854-5956, www.hannafuneral.ca.