Robert Dale Nelson

Robert Dale Nelson died Wednesday October 19th 2022 peacefully at home in South Jordan, Utah. He died of Pancreatic Cancer & many other health issues. He was 82 years old.
He was born December 3rd 1939 to Ernest Dale Nelson and Belva Jarrell in Salt Lake City, Utah. This date was unique because it was the date when ‘Ernie’ and ‘Babs’ met (1936), when they married (1937), and when their 2nd child Karen was born (1942).
Bob graduated from Granite High School in 1958. He enlisted in the National Guard Army Reserve in 1957 when he was only 17 years old with worry of the Vietnam draft. He served for 36 years in the Utah National Guard with the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade. He was deployed to serve in Desert Storm (Saudi Arabia and Kuwait) at the ripe old age of 50. He was the first enlisted man in his brigade to be promoted to CWO 4 and was a Spanish Linguist, interpreter/interrogator. Bob was the kind of soldier who loved every minute and every mission, even the hard and dangerous times. He always loved his country, his family, and his God.
Bob Served a Church Mission to Chile (Andres 1960-1962) during a break in his military service. He had many wonderful experiences there.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Mathematics from Weber State College. He received his Master’s Degree in Library Science with a minor in Computers from BYU. This was in the day of punched cards input.
Bob always loved to read and one of his first jobs at the age of 16 was as a “page” at Ruth Vine Tyler library. He was then promoted to be the bookmobile driver and was thrilled to make $1 an hour. After college and marriage, he began his library career and he was employed by the Atomic Energy Commission at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Moving back to Utah he worked for 36 years with the Salt Lake County Library System. He opened the newly built Holiday Library and worked at Whitmore library Technical Services. He became Head Librarian at the South Jordan Branch for a number of years and retired as Branch Manager at West Valley library. He very much enjoyed serving the public.
Known as, “Preacher”, Bob spent many years participating in Mountain Man Rendezvous’ with his family and friends. He sewed his own buckskin pants and moccasins; he also made a special bag for his beloved banjo. He built a lot of his own equipment such as chairs, tents, and really enjoy black powder rifle shooting and tomahawk throwing. Fort Bridger was one of his favorite places to be.
Bob built a wooden recumbent trike using saws, drills, and other hand tools he concocted, you wouldn’t believe how fun it was for him. He could still be seen tooling around the neighborhood until his last days.
Bob has served in many Church callings and had a special love for temple work at the both the Jordan River and the Draper Temple. He also spent many hours on genealogy work and family history.
Bob met his sweetheart Nancy at the “Thursday Night Dance” at the Terrace Ballroom. It was love at first sight, on his part, but not so much on hers. But they were engaged in 6 weeks and were married in the Salt Lake Temple for 53 years. Bob and Nancy served 4 missions together and enjoyed each one.
One of the greatest joys of his life was his son, Tyler who he called his “Sunshine Boy”. When Tyler married his sweet wife Myeong-Ock Kim, Bob’s family was then complete.
Of his 5 siblings, Karen (Norman “Buck” Weaver), Craig LeRoy (Kay Jones), James Walter, Mark Sheppard (Kristen Moreno), he is only survived by his brother Barry Jarrell (Carla MacBeth).
Bob lived a good, rewarding, happy life, he was always cheerful and kind, he will be greatly missed and always remembered.
 
Funeral services will be held on Saturday October 29th 2022 at 11:00am at Willoughby Park LDS Meetinghouse – 4484 Willoughby Park Dr. South Jordan (Daybreak).
A viewing will be held on Friday October 28th 2022 at 6:00pm – 8:00pm as well as Saturday October 29th 2022 from 10:00am – 10:30am at Willoughby Park LDS Meetinghouse – 4484 Willoughby Park Dr. South Jordan (Daybreak).
Burial and Military Honors Monday October 31, 2022 at 12:00pm at Memorial Redwood Cemetery – 6500 S. Redwood Rd. West Jordan.
Service Information
Viewing October 28, 2022 at 6:00PM
Willoughby Park LDS Meetinghouse - 4484 Willoughby Park Dr. South Jordan (Daybreak)





Funeral Service
October 29, 2022 at 11:00AM
Willoughby Park LDS Meetinghouse - 4484 Willoughby Park Dr. South Jordan (Daybreak)