Jesse Nelson

Jesse Franklin Nelson, who loved his wife of nearly 59 years, died on Father’s Day, June 17, 2018, at 85. 

Jesse was born in Stiltner, WV in 1933 to Richard and Mary Olive (Smith) Nelson, and was the only son of five children:  Eldest daughter, Freda (Nelson) Passalacqua (deceased), Bert (Nelson) Valenti Rhoda (deceased), and is survived by two younger sisters, Polly (Nelson) Spaulding (husband Clyde) and Barbara (Nelson) Keatley Defranco.

Jesse and his wife, Patricia, raised three children:  Cheryl Nelson Reed (husband Dan Reed), Teresa Nelson Martin and Robert Nelson (wife Barbara Siefert Nelson).  Jesse is also survived by six grandchildren, Jacob Martin, Nicholas Reed, Tyler Nelson, Danielle Reed, Abby Nelson and Elise Nelson, brother-in-law Tim Keaton, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jesse lived an exemplary life.  He left West Virginia to attend high school, receiving his diploma from Glenville High School in Cleveland, OH.  Following three years of service in the Army, he received his B.S. in Education from Marshall College in Huntington, WV, becoming the first in his family to receive a college degree.  After teaching one year of junior high school in Columbus City Schools, Jesse was selected as a candidate for the NDEA Program and later received his Masters in Education from The Ohio State University.  Upon graduating, Jesse became a vocational coordinator and enjoyed a successful 33 year career in education with Columbus City Schools.  Education was such a focus for Jesse and Pat, that they were able to see all three children graduate from college and progress to fulfilling careers.  While successful in education, his passion for working with his hands, as he had grown up doing on the farm, resulted in the creation of his own side business in which he worked lovingly side by side with his son and educator friends on weekends and summer vacations.

Faith, family and nature were Jesse’s greatest passions.   He always loved being outdoors and was happiest going fishing, riding horses, vegetable gardening and being with his family.   It was important to Jesse and Pat that they teach their children about the world.   They took annual family vacations that always had a history lesson, whether it be historical sites in the Smoky Mountains or Plymouth Rock.   Jesse’s love for adventure and travel took him to nearly all 50 states and many places abroad, often to the South Pacific, due to his Samoan son-in-law.   But the highlight of all of his travels was the trail ride in Wyoming with his son and son-in-law, where they camped under the stars, traveled by horseback and fished untouched lakes.

Jesse will be missed by his loving family, friends and colleagues.

The family will hold a viewing at 6-8 pm Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at the TIDD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 5265 Norwich St., Hilliard, OH 43026; where a memorial service will be held 10 am Thursday, June 21, 2018. Interment Jerome Township Cemetery, Jerome Road, Jerome, OH 43064.  Following interment, the family will host friends and family for lunch at Indian Run United Methodist Church, 6305 Brand Road, Dublin, OH, 43016.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shane Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship at http://www.shanecenter.org.