Thomas W. “Radar” Nelson
Thomas W. “Radar” Nelson, 81, of Medford, died Jan. 26, 2024, at the Colby Senior Care Center. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Holway with Barb Krug officiating. Burial will follow at Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery with military honors provided by the Medford Area Military Honors Team.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated and may go to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church or to St. Croix Hospice.
Tom was born May 18, 1942 in Medford to Orville and Evamae Nelson. He graduated from Medford High School. He served in the Army National Guard from 1960 to 1968 when he was honorably discharged. He worked many jobs in his younger life before settling on his love of driving truck. He retired from Weather Shield after 32 years, but continued to drive part-time until health reasons forced him to stop three years ago. Until his full retirement, he enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, playing in his gravel pit, and socializing with friends.
Tom married Nancy Prell in 1966 and together they had four children, Tammy (Mark) Jensen of Medford, Julie Gotham of Blaine, MN, Cory (Robin) Nelson of Rosholt, and Susan (Tim) Vaughn of Eau Claire. Tom and Nancy later divorced.
On July 21, 2000 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Tom married Hazel Newburry (Story). She passed in 2016. Tom is further survived by 13 grandkids and 15 great-grandkids.
Also surviving are his sisters, Lou (Tom) Schroeder of Black Hawk, S.D., Peggie (Rick) Nelson of Nicholasville, Ky., Patricia Temple of Hartford; stepchildren, Dennis Newburry of Eau Claire, Steven Newburry of Baraboo; sisters-in-law, Carol Story of Lynnwood, Wash., Addie Mae (Dean) Thorkelson of Lynnwood, Wash., Debbie (Bruce) Kujawa of Eau Claire, Jeanie Story of Altoona, Peggie (Chuck) Warner of Chippewa Falls; and brother-in-law, Dorvin (Marilyn) Story of Sheldon.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; step daughter, Tina Newburry; brothers-in-law, Darrell, Duane, and Pete Story; sisters-in-law, Ellen Hoeck, Marie Story, and Gladys Wiacek.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to St. Croix Hospice, nurses Lori, Rhonda and staff were amazing and we thank you for the love and kindness shown to Tom while you cared for him; and to the staff at Colby Senior Care, especially Samantha and Andrew, we appreciate your care in Tom’s final days and you all made this very difficult time much easier.
Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford is serving the family. Please visit www.hemerfuneralservice. com to share condolences online.
Paid Obituary 148114
