Karl K Nelson Obituary (1929 - 2017)

Karl K Nelson passed away peacefully September 11, 2017. Faithful father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and husband of the late Arva June Howell Nelson. Karl was born in Heber, Utah on November 5, 1929 to Carl Henry Nelson and Zula Floyd Gordon Nelson. His first seven years were spent in American Fork, and his youth years in Park City, where he both played and worked hard. He supported himself by working many different and varied jobs, from store clerking to coal delivery to mining. At a whopping 115 pounds Karl wasn’t much for sports, but he excelled in music, playing and singing his way through high school, where he also served in student body leadership. Always industrious, Karl worked his way through graduation at BYU where he earned a degree in accounting. The Army came calling after BYU graduation, and Karl served during the Korean conflict, although he did not go overseas. Instead, he was called to play in the military band, and promoted feelings of national pride and patriotism as the band played at events all over the Northwest. While home on leave he contacted Arva Howell, whom he remembered from BYU, and they dated briefly. He said he couldn’t forget her after that. On his next leave they were married on October 16, 1953 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They eventually made their home in Draper, Utah, and raised their children there. Karl worked as a corporate auditor for the Utah State Tax Commission. Karl was an enthusiastic member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving others in many capacities in youth leadership, bishoprics, high councils, and on several full-time and church service missions with Arva. One of these took them to Denmark where there were wonderful family connections and history. Karl loved to sing. He sang in and led choirs his whole life. And he favored many with his beautiful, bell-like tenor solo voice. His love of music and singing culminated in a call to sing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which he did for 11 years, traveling the world (often together with Arva) and sharing his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ through music. Karl’s last many years were spent in South Jordan, Utah. Most together with Arva, but the last nearly six years without her. Often a team in singing and accompaniment, they are together again, very probably making beautiful music together. Karl is preceded in death by his wife Arva, daughter Tanya, granddaughter Nicole Mickelsen, and his brother Tom. He is survived by his children Steven (Leslie), Linda (Liz Ranes), Barry (SueAnn), and Kristen (Brian) Akers; eleven grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and two sisters Lila (Jim) Berry and Sheri Fitt. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 11:00a at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Chapels (1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy, So. Jordan, UT). Family and friends may call Friday evening from 6:00p-8:00p at the same location, and again from 9:30a-10:30a Saturday prior to the services.