James "Jim" Riley Nelson

James “Jim” Riley Nelson of Kansas City Kansas passed away on November 6th, 2019. He was 81 years old. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 7th, 2019 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM at 16024 West 79th Terrace, Lenexa, KS 66219. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Kansas State University.

Jim was born on October 18, 1938, in Harrisonville, MO to Loren Riley and Marjorie Lee (Hall) Nelson. Though he was born in Harrisonville, Jim grew up and spent most of his life in in Kansas City, Kansas. He attended Wyandotte High School and graduated in 1958. After high school, James continued his education at Kansas City Kansas Community College where he graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts for Drafting in 1960. During his education, Jim also worked at Montgomery Wards from 1957 to 1960. He then served his country by joining in the Navy Reserves from 1961 to 1969 with 6 months of active duty in 1961. After returning stateside from the Navy, Jim started working as a postal worker for the United States Postal Service, and worked there for 35 years, from 1960-1995.

Jim was a member of the Covenant Baptist Church as well as the Mustang Club of America, or the Mid-America Mustangers. Jim loved being with his family, reading and telling funny jokes, collecting Hot Wheels and Diecast Cars, going to garage sales and auctions for his treasures, and anything related to Ford Mustangs. He attended many car shows and even owned his own 1967 Ford Mustang GTA Fastback. His humor really showed through his holiday Christmas cards that always had a comedic punch line. Jim would also spend his lunch hour at the post office, swapping jokes with his fellow employees, eager to test them out on his family when he came home from work. He loved to dance and would awaken his daughter, Kim, by singing and dancing to the military wake-up (Reveille) tune.

Jim’s favorite title in life, however, was Grandpa Jim. He was very proud of his two grandchildren, Hillary and Blake. Jim learned how to become a babysitting grandpa in an era when most men never had the opportunity to be. Initially, he needed childcare training from his partner in crime, Great-Grandma Woods, the “Brains of the Operation”. He successfully mastered changing diapers, burping, feeding and many other skills. Grandpa Jim had endless patience with the grandkids even when grandson, Blake, requested that the four “Thomas the Tank Engine” episodes play repeatedly over and over. Jim was loved by so many and will be dearly missed.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his infant twin sister (1938); his paternal Grandparents, George Riley Nelson (1866 – 1971) and Mary Alice Cook Nelson (1878 – 1945); Maternal Grandparents, James Wesley Hall (1872 - 1941) and Lona Leona “Toad” Salisbury Hall (1882 - 1969); his son, Brent Riley Nelson; and precious dog, Alice.

Left to cherish his memory is his daughter, Kimberlee Ann (Steven) Martin; Granddaughter, Hillary Martin (Brian) Snodgrass; and Grandson, Blake Steven Martin.