John William Nelson III

John William Nelson III, age 71, of Collierville, passed away on May 20, 2026. He was born in Flemington, New Jersey on January 15, 1955, to John Nelson Jr. and Lorraine Nelson. John grew up in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania surrounded by family and many lifelong friends. During high school, he was active in sports and proudly served as quarterback of his football team.

John attended Geneva College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Med. He later returned to school to pursue a nursing degree and worked for two years as the head nurse of a cardiac care unit while applying to anesthesia school programs. John then attended Medical College of Virginia, graduating near the top of his class with a Master’s Degree in Anesthesia.

Following graduation, John was one of only eight graduates selected for a position in the trauma unit at Regional One Health, where he worked as a CRNA for 10 years and met his wife, Connie. He later spent 25 years with Medical Anesthesia Group, dedicating his career to caring for others with skill and compassion.

John recently retired and deeply enjoyed spending his final years with his family and beloved dogs. He loved boating, fishing, watching New York Giants football, and making memories with those he loved most.

He is survived by his wife of forty-one years, Connie Nelson; his sons, John William Nelson IV and Garrett Nelson, both of Collierville; and his sister, Neve.

A service will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Collierville Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m.