Nicholas Nelson

Nicholas John Nelson, 19, of Nelson, lost his battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, at home, surrounded by his family on March 28, 2018.
Nick was born to John and Sheila Nelson on Feb. 13, 1999, at Naval Hospital, 29 Palms, Calif. He traveled the country with his family, living in Kentucky and California until they moved back home to the family farm in Modena in October 2008. Nick was a baptized and confimed member of Modena Lutheran Church. Nick attended Mondovi High School, graduating with Honors in 2017. One of his proudest accomplishments was being accepted to and attending UW-Stout to pursue a degree in Computer Science with a focus in Video Game Design.
Nick’s passion in life was his video games. It did not matter which game he was playing, it was not complete until it had been beaten in the most difficult mode. This led to his motto which he led his life by, “Born with a physical disadvantage, playing life in hard mode.”
Even though DMD weakened his body, Nick lived life to the fullest. He visited all 50 state capitals and the nation’s capital. His favorite was our capital in Madison because of its beauty and, while visiting it, he got to meet the Governor. During his travels to visit the capitals, Nick visited many other places he greatly enjoyed like the North Shore of Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, the Kennedy Space Center and New York City.
Nick was an original member of the Chippewa Valley Hooligan Power Wheelchair Soccer Team. Playing with the Hooligans gave him an opportunity to be part of a competitive team sport and he was proud of being a good teammate. His fondest memory of playing power soccer was traveling to St. Louis and staying in a big hotel to play in a big two-day tournament. He enjoyed watching volleyball, going to college matches, Mondovi High School matches and especially watching his sister play.
Nick was an inspiration to everyone that got to know him. Despite having many very difficult health battles, he continued to push forward and accomplish his life goals, getting his drivers license, graduating high school and attending college. He had a very special group of close friends that he greatly loved being with. Going with them to Rockfest was a truly a great time for him.
He is survived by his parents, John and Sheila, and sister, Emily, of Nelson; grandparents, Dale and Rene Laehn and Majil Nelson of Mondovi.; aunts and uncles, Barb Nelson and her son Stephen of Birnamwood, Wis., Dave and Dawn Nelson and their son Noah of Westby, Wis., and Corrie and Crystal Laehn and their daughters Jocelynn and Lorelei of Whitehall, Wis.
He was preceded in death by his Grandpa Delbert Nelson.
We would like to thank the Mayo LVAD team and the staff of Mary Brigh units 5B, 5F and 5G for taking such good care of Nick. They helped him through so many health battles and made it possible for him to achieve so many of his life goals.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7, at 11 a.m., at Modena Lutheran Church with Pastor Loren Teig officiating. Burial will follow in the Modena Cemetery.
A visitation will be held on Friday, April 6, from 4 until 8 p.m., at the Talbot Family Funeral Home, Mondovi Chapel, and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service.
Please share your memories and condolences online at www.talbotfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to them as they will be starting a scholarship fund in honor of Nick to help those furthering their education in the computer science program at UW-Stout.