Kenneth Warren Nelson

Written by Me for me, prior to my death. 
Kenneth Warren Nelson, of Baldwin Illinois, passed away on April 26th, 2021 at Barnes Jewish hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born on October 20, 1938 in Pocatello, Idaho, the son of Harry Carl and Catherine Bennett Nelson. He has a brother, Lowell Allen Nelson and a sister, Dorothy Lois Nelson Wetzel whom he adored and looked up to so much. Kenneth was proud of his middle name, Warren, since it was his Grandmother Bennett's maiden name. 
Kenneth attended Lincoln Elementary, Irving Jr. High, and graduated from Pocatello High School in 1956. Kenneth was a lifelong residence of Pocatello until he moved to Baldwin, Illinois in 2018 to be close to his son and daughter in law, Darren and Ann Nelson, for health reasons. 
Kenneth was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Kenneth served in many different callings, Elder's Quorum President, 70's group leader, ward and stake Sunday school presidencies, ward historical clerk (served under 3 different bishops) and ward membership clerk. He taught gospel doctrine classes, but his favorite calling was teaching the youth. He made many friends. 
He served a mission in Buenos Aires, Argentina and was a popular missionary with those he met and he helped a substantial number of people convert to the Church. He had excellent Spanish which he kept as a second language all his life. 
After he returned home, he met Myra Lee Burrup. Kenneth decided that he was going to ask Myra Lee to be his wife. He planned how he was going to ask her. 
He took her to the movie, then afterwards drove up to lover's lane. It was so dark, and he was so nervous, that he could not find the engagement ring, so they went to Myra Lee’s home and he asked her to marry him in front of her parents. 
They were married in the Idaho Falls temple on March 25, 1967. 
Many years ago, he moved into their home on Alameda Road. There was a time that a certain individual would be named the neighborhood Mayor. Kenneth was known as the Mayor of Alameda Road. He became the Mayor because he was always walking the neighborhood taking care of and helping everybody. He felt it was his opportunity to serve by placing the garbage cans of the widows out every week. His mother was a widow, and he felt the responsibility to help others. He had the heart and loved helping all people that he met. 
Kenneth felt an obligation to serve his country and did so by joining the National Guard on a local basis and attending a meeting a week and summer camps for 20 years. 
Things that Kenneth remembers: 
When you made a phone call, you spoke with someone. 
When automobiles got automatic transmissions. 
Coal furnace heating. 
Steam locomotives. 
3 cents postal stamps. 
No air conditioning - open a window. 
20 cents movie tickets. 
25 cents school lunches. 
33 cents gasoline. 
Bottled milk delivered right to your front door. And much more. 
Kenneth is survived by a son Darren (Anne) Baldwin Illinois, daughter, Laura, Pocatello, Idaho, three grandchildren, Britini, Kaylee, and Dakota, and 5 great grandchildren. 
He was preceded in death by his wife Myra Lee, his parents, a sister Dorothy Wetzel and a son in law, Ron Hudson. 
Services will be held at the Cornelison Funeral Home, 431 N. 15th Ave., on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 12:00 noon with a viewing on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 and one hour before the service on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Mountain View Cemetery between his wife and his parents.
A live-stream and recording will be available on the Cornelison Funeral Home Facebook page. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.cornelisonfh.com
208-232-0542

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