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Submitted: 9/18/23 • Approved: 9/19/23 • Last Updated: 9/22/23 • R275427-G275427-S3
Section 26
Michael "Mike" Harley Nelson
September 25, 1965 - January 11, 2022
Michael “Mike” Harley Nelson, 56, passed away on January 11th, 2022, in his wife’s arms while surrounded by his son Austin and daughter- in- law Alicia.
Mike's funeral mass will take place at Christ the King Catholic Church on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with burial and a luncheon to follow.
Visitation, with family present, will be at Heritage Funeral Home from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, with a prayer service beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Mike was born on September 25th, 1965, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. After graduating from Park Center High School, he then attended Hennepin Technical Center and graduated with a degree in Graphic Arts.
Mike was a jack of all trades. His most recent job was working at Costco for over ten years. He was the happiest greeter and also enjoyed his time working in the Optical Department. He loved his co-workers and everyone he met there. Mike never went out in public where someone didn’t recognize him as “the happy Costco guy” and would often tell him just that. Mike's only goal at work was trying to make other people’s day brighter…and he did! Mike also owned his own business “Dakota Winddance” where he fixed and delivered medication carts to Avera locations around the area.
Mike had a passion for life and lived it to the fullest. He was happiest in the outdoors and hunting with his friends. He would always tell Donna this is where he felt closest to God and he would have deep conversations with him. His motto in life was “God’s Got This”. He knew God very personally.
Mike taught himself to play the guitar and spent many hours just playing away. His jam sessions in the back room will be a missed noise in their home. Mike loved drones, birds, airplanes, and anything that flew in the sky. Mike also raised a family of homing pigeons that he would release at weddings and funerals. Mike even survived crashing an Ultralight airplane, only breaking his back during the crash.
Mike loved to tinker and build things out of wood. Their home deck, planters, wooden swings, and even the ring Donna wears on her hand were all made by his loving hands. Mike never wanted to give store bought presents; he wanted to craft everything himself. He even custom designed their wedding bands made out of a braid of three strands, one strand representing God, Donna, and himself. Mike’s love of Donna and Austin was as strong as a braided cord.
Mike’s circle of friends is very deep. Donna and Mike often joked that he “collected friends” and his friendships meant the world to him. There is no way we could even begin to list all of the friends Mike would have dropped everything for and that he cherished his time with—you all know who you are and those connections were irreplaceable.
Mike had many dogs over the years that were precious to him. He was a natural with animals and he never walked by one without taking time to talk to them. He currently leaves behind his wirehaired pointing griffon, Abby, and his sheepadoodle, Maggie Mae.
Mike was known to many as “Uncle Fuzzy Face” and he lovingly nicknamed Donna his “Sweet Baby Rae” . He knew the importance of family and never took family time for granted. Mike was known as the fun uncle and he always took the time to listen and engage with everyone.
Mike is lovingly survived by his wife Donna (Merrill) Nelson, his son Austin Merrill and his wife Alicia, his mother Gale Nelson, brother Paul Nelson, sister Carolyn (Bill) Schrooten, Aunt Judy (Roger) McConico, Aunt Bev (Randy) Nitchie, Mother and Father in Law, Don and Alyce Merrill, Sister in law, Nancy (Mark) Gerdes, Brother in Law, Jeff (Tracey) Merrill, Sister in Law, Jamie (Gregg) Merrill, and many nieces and nephews: Becca (Tyler) Dyson, Andrew Schrooten, Jordan (Laura) Gerdes, Isaac (Alexis) Gerdes, Taryn (Erik) Peterson, Hannah (Jamari) Hartley, Luke Merrill, Ryan Merrill, Nicole Gerdes, Austin Moores, Chase Merrill, Kolin Schroeder, Cody Moores, Tye Merrill, Kaleb Schroeder, Jake Merrill, Kai Schroeder, and Nate Merrill. He also has many great nieces and nephews he adored. Dearly missing his voice are his dogs Abby (Bing Bing) and Maggie Mae.
Mike is preceded in death by his father, Harley Nelson.
Mike will be waiting for all of us to join him in heaven to crack open a beer and grill a steak. He can’t wait to hug you!
If you know Mike you know his deep love of dogs and we want to celebrate his life and pay it forward. In lieu of sending flowers to honor him, we are going to make it more fun because we know Mike would want it that way. If you plan to attend and would like to bring a bag of Purina Dog Food or Purina Puppy Chow to the funeral home or the church, we will transport and donate them to the local Humane Society or B Squad Dog Rescue.
Contributed on 9/18/23 by 9katz
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Record #: 275427