Erwin Carl Nelson

03/18/1933 - 08/19/2021

Erwin “Gary” Carl Nelson, aged 88 years, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and son died on August 19, 2021 at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, CA.

A military committal service will be held Monday, October 4th, 2021 at 10 AM at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, CA.

Gary was born March 18, 1933 in Little Falls, Minnesota to Antoinette (Courteau) and Nels Carl Nelson, the second of 11 children. The Nelson family moved to Wausau, Wisconsin in 1938, where Gary enjoyed hanging out with his pals and his Mother’s farm fresh cooking. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps where he served three years in the Korean War, receiving the Korean War, U.N. Service, National Defense and Navy Occupation service medals. Upon completion of his military service, Sergeant Nelson moved to Los Angeles, where he attended UCLA, and served as a teaching assistant for the Department of History. Mr. Nelson graduated with Bachelor of Arts (1966) and Master of Arts (1969) degrees in History. He then taught the History of Western Civilization at Santa Monica City College and Sixth grade at Soto Street School in East Los Angeles. During his time in the Los Angeles area he married and had three children, Jennifer, Stephanie, and Robert.

Gary moved to San Diego in 1994, where he taught at Olivewood Elementary School in Chula Vista.

Gary had loved Europe and the fact that music was played everywhere. A hobbyist on the accordion, Gary was a member of the San Diego chapter of the “Accordion Lover’s Society International” for many years. He loved to dance; it was at a polka dance that he met his wife of 23 years, Nancy Roussakis-Nelson. Having enthusiastically enjoyed Greek Festival dancing, he took up ballroom dancing when he met his new life partner. They enjoyed many years of dancing and also hosted a regular dance night, “Let’s Dance,” in San Diego, CA. He was a fan of San Diego Chargers football and SDSU Aztec football and basketball.

Gary was a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Mother church in Boston, MA, as well as Fourth Church, La Jolla, CA and Seventh Church in Pacific Beach, CA, where he served as First Reader for three years.

He is fondly remembered as enjoying studying the origin of spiritual practices around the world, playing cribbage, and regularly singing “Happy Birthday” duets on the phone with his wife, Nancy, to friends and family members. Gary enjoyed travel with Nancy to Jamaica, Greece, Hawaii and cruising the Mexican Riviera.

Gary is survived by his wife, Nancy Roussakis-Nelson, and her children Monique Richau, {Ken}, Roswell, GA, George Roussakis, {Georgiane}, Roseland, NJ, and Melissa Roussakis, San Diego, CA; and grandchildren Donny Mutchler-Balthazor, Roswell, GA, Joshua Richau, Sonoma, CA and Christina Roussakis, Roseland, NJ.

Gary had ten siblings: Deceased: Dolores “Shirley” Trimberger, Charles Nelson, Byron Nelson, Annette “Carol” Kluck, and Joan Kluetz. Surviving siblings: Robert Nelson, Spokane, WA, Jack Nelson, St. Cloud, MN, James Nelson, {Janet}, Fond du Lac, WI, Jean MacArthur, Ventura, CA, and Ronald Nelson, Spokane, WA; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and extended family.