Theodore "Tj" Joseph Nelson

Theodore Joseph "TJ" Nelson, age 65, of La Grande, died April 4, 2012 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. Family and friends are invited to gather together for a prayer Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at Riverside Park with a reception at Bud Jackson's Sportsmans Bar & Grill immediately following. Those who wish may make contributions to the TJ Nelson memorial fund in care of Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center, 1502 7th Street in La Grande.

TJ was born on May 26, 1946, the son of Dale Nelson and Grace O'Neil Nelson in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He graduated from Bly High School and then enlisted in the United States Navy and served two tours in Vietnam. He worked as an electrician and came to La Grande in 1977 and in 1984 he moved to Sandpoint, Idaho. After a few years he traveled to various places including Seattle, Alaska, Hawaii, Texas and Arkasas before returning to La Grande in 1995. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, water skiing, snow skiing and boating.

Survivors include his wife, Tanya Nelson of La Grande; daughters, Amy Nelson of Chico, California, Angela Rash of Las Vegas, Nevada and Tiffany Nelson of Las Vegas, Nevada; step-daughters, Jess Branco of Walla Walla, Toni Branco of La Grande, Dana Megargee of Elgin and Lisa Megargee of Bend; six grandchildren; brother, Gilbert Griffin of Spokane, Washington; brother-in-law, Kevin Winger of Waitsburg, Washington; sister-in-law, Nidra Winger of Malibu, California; mother-in-law, Gloria Winger of Waitsburg, Washington and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Theodore Joseph "Jake" Nelson in 1994.

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