John B. Nelson
Retired Elevator Inspector & Installer
TEWKSBURY: John Burnham Nelson, age 79, a resident of Tewksbury for 53 years, formerly of Wilmington, passed away at the Lowell General Hospital on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
He was the beloved husband of Sheila A. (Wallace) Nelson, with whom he celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, and devoted father of Stacey L. Nelson, of Lowell.
Born in Malden on September 18, 1944, he was the son of the late Eugene H. Nelson, Sr. and the late Dorothy (Burnham) Nelson.
John was raised in Malden and Wilmington. He attended Wilmington schools and graduated from Wilmington High School.
In 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during the Vietnam War era aboard the U.S.S. Holland. John was awarded the National Defense Service Medal for his active-duty service.
John worked for many years as an elevator installer for several area elevator companies including the Beckwith Elevator Company and the Otis Elevator Company. John later served as an elevator inspector for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
He was a member of the Billerica Rod & Gun Club, where he enjoyed target shooting.
John enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson Motorcycle, gardening, watching the History channel on TV and the companionship of his beagles, “Rudy”, “Baxter” and “Jasper”.
In addition to his wife and daughter, John is survived by his sister, Eleanor Pidgeon, of Gilmanton, NH: his brother, Eugene H. Nelson, Jr. and his wife Janet, of Salem, NH: his nieces and nephews, Brad Doherty, Caroline Doherty, Louis Doherty, Bruce Doherty, Diane Nelson, Kimberly Nelson, Eugene Nelson, III, and Eric Nelson: cousins, Dennis Nelson, of Wakefield, Leslie Nelson, of Tewksbury, and Frank Nelson, of Wilmington: his close family friend, Margaret Mello and her children, Timothy, Cory and Erin Mello.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2nd, at 11 a.m. at the Tewksbury Congregational Church, 10 East Street, Tewksbury. Interment of his ashes will follow at Tewksbury Cemetery, 172 East Street, Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Beagles of New England States at www.bonesbeagles.org