My Friend Cal is Gone.
I first met Cal and Joan when I joined the Bonneville Kiwanis.  Cal and Joan were always friendly with differing talents, but there was something familiar from my childhood with Cal's manner.  Yes, he and I were veterans of different wars, but that was not it.  He was part of the food industry with an old fashioned word is your bond positive work ethic.  My grandfather George Zeese owned the independent grocery chain, Success Markets, which carried the Banquet Butter and Cheese lines, as well as the eggs.  The Banquet bright yellow label brought back memories of these stores and the quality of Cal's product lines.  Cal's family business had a reputation of reliability and quality assurance, but I digress. 
Cal was a former President of the Bonneville Kiwanis and had numerous Kiwanian friends, whom he intermingled with his golfing buddies from the Salt Lake Country Club.  He was at ease listening to their troubles, their successes, their failures, and always had an eye to giving back to the community with various civic projects.   Cal's annual parties for the Nelson Ricks Creamery employees gave Cal more opportunity to mix in additional friends.
Cal was close to his family, some of whom were on the Board of Nelson Ricks Creamery.  Cal was very supportive of Joan's art endeavors, which my wife promoted in her gallery with various gallery showings where Cal acted as host and mixer.  But, I knew his daughter Rebecca best as she was introduced to future husband Phill by my daughter Ruth and son-in-law RJ Schreiner from their engineering school days at the University of Utah.   As Rebecca progressed from nurse to anesthesiologist, Cal beamed.  The addition of grandchildren to his family further delighted Cal adding to his mix of friends and family.
I didn't realize the depth of Cal's business acumen until I worked on various trademark matters for Cal.  He routinely took risks in milk futures to hold down manufacturing costs of his product lines and was willing to look at cost saving improvements; even sending me to evaluate one of his cheese manufacturing plants in Idaho to see if my power company could install a cogeneration power plant to generate electricity and provide discounted process steam.  He often dealt with market fluctuations, and changes, until he retired and turned over the business to new management.  The recession in his absence force a sale to third parties, but the brand lives on.    
My friend Cal was one of the good people and leaves me with many good memories.  May his memory be eternal.

It is a very hard and sad week to learn of the passing of my friend Calvin L Nelson.  Cal was my mentor, friend and boss of 30+ years at Nelson-Ricks Creamery Co.  He was a caring leader wanting to know of the personal aspects of all his employees.  He was an example to me.  As a small town boy, I looked up to Cal's class and learned ways.  He always made me feel as an equal and part of his team.  He offered me many opportunities for growth and development.  For this I will always be grateful.  I honor your life and example.  Thank You

Cal was a wonderful person.  He was generous, kind and thoughtful.  Cal did a lot for me and my family.   Val and I had many opportunities to spend time with Cal, sharing stories of  a lifetime of great accomplishment.  He was proud of  his company.  He loved his family.  Val and I loved Cal. We have missed, and will continue to miss him.  The world has lost a truly great man.   May you all be comforted at  this time.

It is with deep sadness I read the news of Cal. He was a kind, generous caring man.  He sold us the building that housed his families business because he believed we would love and cherish it as he did. We do,and I will feel his presence there every day.  Please accept my condolences.

OBITUARIO

Calvin Nelson

27 agosto, 1927 – 26 agosto, 2016

Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary

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