James "Brad" Nelson

October 26, 1942 - December 25, 2018

James W. B. Nelson Kearney Resident James W. B. "Brad" Nelson, 76, of Kearney passed away on December 25, 2018 at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 31, 2018 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Interment will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Post #52 and VFW Post #759 in conjunction with the Nebraska National Guard Honors Team. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Radio Relay League or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Association. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Brad was born on October 26, 1942 in Lawrence, Kansas to James Iden Nelson and Mary Gertrude (Mumert) Carlson. Although he lived in various states while growing up, he spent his later years in Phoenix, Arizona and Spring, Texas before moving to Kearney in 2016. He graduated from Campbell High School with the class of 1960 and married Patricia M. Chavanu in 1965. After graduating from Kearney State University in 1966, he joined the U.S. Army. He served from 1966-1970 in the Army Security Agency and was a Vietnam Veteran. He worked for the Houston School District for almost thirty years. His hobbies included reading, genealogy research, photography, astronomy, and ham radio. He was a member of the local ham radio club, ARRL (American Relay Radio League), the Torch Club, and the American Legion. Survivors include his wife, Patricia M. Nelson; son, Michael Nelson; granddaughters, Breeah and Abrielle Nelson; daughter, Michelle DePaepe and her husband, Tom DePaepe; granddaughter, Sierra DePaepe; and his sister, Katie Snydstrup and her husband, Joe Snydstrup. He was preceded in death by his sister, Janie Auld and his step-brother, Harold Carlson.