Gary Nelson

Gary Dean Nelson passed away August 7, 2024 at home. He was 85 years old.

Gary was born in Larned, Kansas to Harold Orville Nelson and Barbara Louise Nelson on April 5, 1939. He was the oldest of 4 children. He was proceeded in death by his parents; wife Kay Cummins Nelson, brother Richard “Dick” Nelson, sister Dorothy Whitson and son Mark Steven Nelson.

Gary is survived by his brother Ernie Nelson, his wife Kay Nelson; his sons Alan Nelson, wife Cathy; Phillip Nelson, wife Shelley and Patrick Nelson, wife Carlene as well as 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gary attended Wichita West High School. He graduated from Churchill County High School in Fallon, NV in 1973. He joined the US Navy at 17 and served for 20 years and retired in 1977. Gary also worked at Stanion Electric prior to retiring again. He and Kay were married for 65 years.

During his time in the US Navy he served on four aircraft carriers and the family moved to various states and even Puerto Rico for his deployments. He served on the USS Lake Champlain, USS Oriskany, USS Midway and the USS Independence.

Services will be August 27 at Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Wichita at 10 a.m. He will be interred at Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Winfield at 2 PM.

• Memorials have been established with:
• Wounded Warrior Project
• P.O. Box 758516
• Topeka, KS 66675
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• Kansas Honor Flights
• P.O. Box 2371
• Hutchinson, KS 67504