100 - Lawrence Earnest Nelson - Kaleden, British Columbia
Posted by: 
T0SHEA
N 49° 22.422 W 119° 34.875
11U E 312626 N 5472203
Lawrence Earnest Nelson is interred in Kaleden Cemetery located just off Oak Avenue turning north about 200 metres on Linden Avenue. It is only about 2.5 km south from the Community Hall in downtown Kaleden.
Waymark Code: WMPZBB
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 11/16/2015
Views: 1
Lawrence Earnest Nelson was born on September 27, 1912 and passed away on August 27, 2013 at the age of 100.
Lawrence (Larry) Earnest Nelson
Former Radio Operator and Radio Inspector Passes Away at the age of 100
OBITUARY
Lawrence (Larry) Earnest Nelson
Sept 27, 1912 – Aug 24, 2013
Larry Nelson
Larry was born in a tar-paper shack near Rosemead in southern Alberta, the second of four sons to Agda and Nels Nelson from Sweden. He had pleasant memories of his childhood on the homestead near Enchant. Times were tough but he and his brother Ed amused themselves by doing and making things with whatever they could put their hands on. His father taught him early to handle horses, fix anything, and work independently, a work ethic he carried through his life.
An interest in ham radio led Larry to his career with the Department of Transport, starting out in Hudson, Ontario. Several moves later, he met his sweetheart Blanche Deschenes in Red Lake, Ont, and they were married in her hometown, Winnipeg, in 1937. Their life together, with their two daughters Deanna and Lorraine, took them all over Canada. Their three wartime years in Whitehorse, Yukon were a special highlight – lifelong friends were made in this unique northern setting.
Larry’s career duties over the years included inventing and making improvement to radio equipment, sending and receiving Morse code, training, testing and licensing recruits, supervising, administrating and travelling to remote stations. He progressed by hard work and his excellent knowledge and skills in all communication matters, to his position as Regional Superintendent of Radio Regulations in Edmonton.
Larry and Blanche retired to Kaleden, BC, in 1971, where Larry built their house on the banks of Skaha Lake. Many family summers at the beach, as well as fishing trips, are happy memories for their children and grandchildren. The Nelsons became winter “snowbirds”, travelling and golfing in the south. Blanche sadly succumbed to cancer in 1979, leaving Larry extremely lonely.
Fortunately Larry found Grace Clark to share his life with, and enjoyed many good years with his extended family. They travelled overseas as well as continuing the treks around North America that Larry loved to make with his various RV combinations.
Later years and various health issues saw Larry and Grace move into Penticton. Larry sadly lost Grace in 2011. He continued on to celebrate his 100th birthday with many friends and relatives last summer.
Larry’s love, creativeness, hard work, steadfastness and integrity are cherished by us. We are so grateful to have had him in our lives.
Larry is survived by his daughters Deanna McNary and her husband Larry, and Lorraine Nelson and her partner Robert Clugston, grandchildren Vicki, Shawn, Linda, Adele and Bob and their families, and ten great grandchildren, and Grace’s daughters Jo Winding and Ann Locke and her husband Charlie and their families.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 2 pm, at Parkview Funeral Chapel, 1258 Main Street, Penticton, BC, with Peter O’Flynn officiating. Interment will be at Kaleden Cemetery.
When the Department of Communications (DOC) was formed in April 1969 the regional radio regs organization, which remained with DOT until 1971, had six regional offices. Each was headed up by a regional superintendent. The Edmonton office was headed by Larry Nelson who retired that year. Larry has passed away, age 100, in Penticton. I had the pleasure of meeting him there last summer.
Larry was an active contributor to our history and kept in touch with his friends via Skype until the end.
Author:
John Gilbert
September 2, 2013
Kaleden Cemetery is within the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. The cemetery is about an acre in size that gently slopes downward towards Skaha Lake. At the lower end you can see the lake.
The Kaleden Cemetery is very rustic with native grasses and lots of low growing prickly pear cactus and pine cones. The cemetery was established in the early 1900s as the oldest known burial was Bessie M. Robinson who was born in 1873 and passed away in 1903. There are 173 known burials within the Kaleden Cemetery.