Frank L Nelson's Obituary
Frank L. Nelson (1948-2024) died at the Meadow Peak Memory Care Facility in Salt Lake City on February 13, 2024. Frank was truly one of a kind. He was brilliant, caring, generous, and thoughtful, and had an extraordinary sense of humor. He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and was a voracious reader. He was a truth seeker, saying what he truly thought, sometimes with a filter, sometimes not. He was fiercely independent but loved being around family and friends. He sometimes had a brusque demeanor, but he also had the softest heart in the family. He had an adventurous spirit and loved to ski powder, play golf, hike in the Wasatch Mountains, and backpack in the High Uintas and in the Wind River Wilderness. Frank was born in Sioux City, Iowa on August 11, 1948 to Helen and Franklin Nelson.
He attended East High School in Sioux City, where he was a gifted basketball player. He later played Division 1 basketball at the University of Iowa, graduating with a double major in anthropology and history. After graduation, he hitch-hiked throughout the United States and ended up in Wenatchee Washington, where he learned the art of tree pruning. In 1977, he moved to Salt Lake City where he was a master pruner for over 40 years, with loyal clients throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Two years ago, Frank had a tragic fall from a pruning ladder and suffered traumatic injuries. Even with those challenges, he maintained his sense of humor and his independent spirit. He is survived by his sister Abby Fiat (Jerry Fiat), brother Craig Nelson, niece Jessie Fiat (Drew vonLintel), nephew Kyle Fiat (Dena Fiat), and grand nephews/nieces (Tatum, Oliver, Vonn, Ryan). Many thanks to the doctors, nurses, aides, and staff at St. Mark’s Hospital, Olympus Clinic, Cottonwood Creek Assisted Living, Meadow Peak Memory Care, David Smith Family Dentistry, and Inspiration Hospice, and to friends and family who have all been such an amazing support to Frank over these past 2 years and throughout his life. Frank will be deeply missed. In remembrance of Frank, please consider donating to Tree Utah or enjoy a walk in the wild. As Edward Abbey wrote, “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit”.
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