Paul Nelson, 75, died on March 4, 2023 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital after receiving wonderful care at Dana Farber / South Shore Hospital. Paul had received treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia since 2013 however, an acute infection led to his hospitalization at the end of February. His family is grateful for the loving and attentive care provided by all of the nurses, assistants, doctors, and specialists.
Paul was born in Abington in 1947 to Paul and Jean (Anderson) Nelson. He was the first born followed by his siblings: David, Mark, Peter, and Heidi (Nelson) Ferris.
Paul graduated from South Shore Vocational Technical school and then entered the service in 1967. He was based in Cu Chi, Vietnam from August 1967 to December 1967. Paul was in the Army 25th Division 1st/27th Brigade of Wolfhounds, Company D. After being injured in the line of duty, Paul was honorably discharged and returned home to his love, Karen. They were married in September of 1969. Paul was proud of his military service and often wore a hat with military pins on display. He added Wolfhound and Army emblems onto his purple heart license plate, he sought out his fellow service members, and he kept in touch with his Vietnam brothers.
After the service, Paul continued his education at Wentworth Institute where he specialized in drafting. He went on to work as a petro-chemical piping designer for Badger, Raytheon, and Shaw, and Stone & Webster.
Paul was an easy-going guy with a great sense of humor. He loved spending time with his family and wanted nothing more than to be in his own cozy home in the woods with a nice fire with a Bud in hand. Paul was an avid outdoorsman who loved camping, fishing, bird watching, stacking wood, and hunting. He planned all year long for his annual trip to Maine each November. No task was too small or too big in Paul’s eyes. Paul could fix, design, and build anything: a pulley system for his log splitter, a leaking copper pipe, a firewood shed, a play grocery store for his grandchildren, or a bird feeder that no squirrel could penetrate. There was little that black electrical tape or duct tape couldn’t fix; and, if Paul tightened a bolt, no one would be able to loosen it!
He so loved his vacations with Karen to England and Scotland and took pride in his meticulous hand-written notes of castles visited, routes taken, and pubs dined at. Thankfully, he could drive on the opposite side of the road with ease! Despite his ongoing illness, Paul and Karen were able to visit their Scottish sheep one last time in September 2023.
Paul leaves behind his wife, Karen, and his two children, Shayna (and grandchildren, Kobi and Forest) and Jenna. He will be remembered as the dad that couldn’t do enough and as the husband who loved his family with all of his heart.
Paul will be honored at a private service at Bourne National Cemetery where he will join his mother and father in the after-life.
Memorial donations may be made to: the Wounded Warrior Project and/or the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.