Donald Leroy Nelson

Donald Leroy Nelson, born on 11/20/1934 in Pymosa, Iowa and who passed away on 06/05/2025 in Hamilton, Texas was a man who never met a stranger and enriched the lives of everyone he met. Having been born as the 2nd child of 3 to a family of farmers Don learned and earned his “living off the land” skills at an early age. Ultimately those skills coupled with his dapper good looks caught the eye of his high school sweetheart Opal Hocamp and soon after graduation they wed with the prospects of raising a family together, and as fate would have it they were ultimately blessed with 3 sons.

Don soon realized that there were greener pastures in Texas as far as jobs were concerned and moved the family to Pasadena, TX. The City of Pasadena is located right along the banks of the Houston Ship Channel, which is the major shipping route of imported/exported goods to the Houston area. Don knew this was where he could provide for his family and soon secured a job in the sales department of a fastener company that catered to various sorts of businesses all up and down the Ship Channel.

Don’s rural upbringing along with his love of hunting and fishing eventually sparked an interest in sharing his love and knowledge of the great outdoors with others and he became active in the Boy Scouts of America. Don ultimately became a Scout Master for the Deepwater troop 810 for close to 10 years and he inspired so many other parents in his neighborhood to get involved in scouting. Don’s oldest son Jeff achieved the status of Eagle Scout through the encouragement and support of his family and community as did several other scout members. Also while serving the Boy Scouts Don became a member of the local chapter of the Optimist Club, an organization dedicated to giving back to others, especially the community’s youth, and eventually became the Secretary of his local chapter for close to 10 years.

After retiring from his long standing job as the “go-to” nuts and bolts guy and moving to Hamilton it became very clear that this was where Don’s heart and soul was meant to be. Don and his wife Opal soon became members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aleman and quickly earned the respect and friendship of the established congregation, folks that both he and Mom have continuously sung high praises about over the years. Don earned a seat as an elder on the church’s board, a seat that he took seriously and was so proud of having achieved. Don also loved going to the local gym a couple of times each week where he would get quite the workout…not so much from the exercise machines but more so from chatting up a storm with the other regulars that he loved socializing with.

Short and simple Don was a people person who had a love for socializing, swapping stories and finding joy, happiness and laughter no matter where he went.

Don is preceded in death by his son Douglas Nelson and is survived by his loving wife of 69 years Opal Nelson, his son Jeffery Nelson and partner Kevin Malo, his son Christopher Nelson and wife Patty and his grandson Jason Nelson. A private burial gathering for family members will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025.