James Brian Nelson

JAMES BRIAN (JB) NELSON BORN March 3, 1979 Iowa City, Iowa DIED October of 2010 Holy Cross Wilderness, Colorado AGE 31 Years, 7 Months, and Days FAMILY VISITATION James Family Home 1234 Dover Street Iowa City, Iowa FUNERAL SERVICES 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 21, 2012 Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 2301 East Court Street Iowa City, Iowa WORDS OF COMFORT Pastor Brent Hartwig. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Iowa City, Iowa HONORARY BEARERS Sven Klingmann Rob Strickland Joe Walsh Mary Wanta Tony Hoshaw Marshall Poulin PIANIST Marilyn Peatz SOLOIST Melody Strom MUSIC Goodbye My Friend INTERMENT If it Rains Service at Hastings Funeral Home, in Jefferson, Iowa before services at cemetery Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 1:00 PM Highland Township Cemetery Churdan, Iowa James Brian ("JB") Nelson, age 31, of Chicago, Illinois passed away Oct., 2010 while backpacking in the Holy Cross Wilderness area of Colorado. James Brian Nelson was born on March 3, 1979 in Iowa City to James Phillip and Catherine (Young) Nelson. He attended school at Lucas elementary, Southeast Jr. High and graduated from City High in 1997. During his high school years he served as photo digitizer, productions manager, and campus news editor on the City High Little Hawk newspaper. He served as a City High Ambassador, was in the Art Club, Spirit Club, Paint and Patches, International Thespians Society, Quill and Scroll, senior Yearbook and Chorus. James was a member of "Who's Who Amongst American High School Students", was picked as a Youth Salute senior year, designed the program for the play "Music Man", was Publicity/House Manager for the play "A Midsummer Nights Dream", Electrician and Lights for the play "Bus Stop" and played the role of "Doc" in the musical "West Side Story". James was a member of Boy Scout Troop 212 and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with three palms. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, participated in Youth group, Youth choir, served on the East Iowa/ John Knox Presbyterian Joint Youth Committee, East Iowa Youth Committee, was a Youth Delegate to the Presbyterian General Assembly, and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and Chicago Cubs fan. James attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa graduating in 2001 with a degree in Religion. He attended McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois graduating with a Masters of Divinity in 2005. James was employed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as the Administrative Assistant in the ELCA Funds Foundation until July of 2010 when he was promoted to Director for Official Roster Records Office of the Secretary. At the time of his death, he was pursuing a doctorate degree in religion from Chicago Seminary Theology School. James was a witty, compassionate, dedicated, and hard working person who loved unconditionally. He had a great passion for theology, cooking, dehydrating food, home beer brewing, and backpacking. He was co-leader of the Chicago Backpacker Meet Up Group leading and teaching new member Boot Camps. James "liked the trail" and lived by the motto of "Hike your own hike. Brew your own beer". He was a wonderful son and great friend to many. James is survived by the love of his life and fianc", Amber Leberman of Chicago, Il, his father James (Laraine) of Estes Park, CO, his mother Catherine of Iowa City, sister Christy Waters of West Branch, only niece Lillian Waters of West Branch, grandfather Duane and step-grandmother Delores (Semke) Young of Jefferson, Iowa, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of colleagues, friends, and backpackers. James was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother Dorothy (Picht) Young, and paternal grandparents Glenn and Nellie Nelson of Red Oak, Iowa. James will be dearly missed by many but will live in our hearts forever.