Jesse Nelson

Jesse Robert (Bob) Nelson, age 92, passed away peacefully in his sleep early on the morning of January 26, 2025, at his home at Summit Vista in Taylorsville. Bob was born on May 6, 1932, to Jesse and Myrtle (Johnson) Nelson in Salt Lake City. He grew up during the depression and WWII in the Sugarhouse area, graduating from South High School in 1950 and the University of Utah in 1954.

Bob married the love of his life, Marie Rotzler, on Sep 18, 1951. Bob entered Navy flight training shortly after graduation from the University of Utah NROTC Program, where he found the second love of his life... "flying". In the Navy, he was primarily a carrier pilot flying the S2-F, C1, and C2 aircraft. He logged 7500+ flight hours and had about 1300 carrier landings (many more as an instructor).

After retiring from the Navy in 1974, he continued to fly privately. Unfortunately, the Vietnam War was ending at that time, and he couldn't get a job flying. He went to UCLA and trained as a Respiratory Therapist. From there, he worked at American Fork Hospital, living in neighboring Highland, Utah for twenty years until he retired in 1996. Bob and Marie served two missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the first in Switzerland and the second in Montana. They also served as Temple Ordinance Workers in the Provo, Mount Timpanogos, and Oquirrh Mountain Temples for many years. At the time of this writing, Bob and Marie have 6 children, 29 grandchildren, 80 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Richard, three of his children, Daniel Nelson, Stephen Nelson, and Anne Johnson. He is survived by his brother John Nelson of Sandy, his sons Jim (Carol) Nelson of Taylorsville and Mike (Katrina, deceased) Nelson of Riverton, and daughter Robin (Nolan) Money of Salem, Utah.

Funeral Services will be held through McDougal Funeral Home at the Bernina Chapel on February 1, 2025.The viewing will be from 9:00-10:15 am with services starting at 10:30.

The services can be viewed on-line at https://zoom.us/j/93240096370.

 Internment will be in the Highland City Cemetery at 2:00 pm.