1937 – 2014

LEWISTON — David R. Nelson, 76, of Auburn, died Friday, June 13, at Central Maine Medical Center after a period of declining health.

He was born in Lewiston on July 2, 1937, son of the late Werner and Ruth Milliken Nelson. Dave attended Edward Little High School where he was a star basketball player and a member of the baseball team. After graduating in 1955, he entered the Air Force and served from 1955 to 1959 in the field of early warning radar. His overseas deployments included Bangkok, Thailand, and Kumijima, Okinawa.

Dave went to work in the family business, Androscoggin Die Co., Inc., which was started by his grandfather and father, Gustaf and Werner Nelson. In 1978, he purchased the business from his father and continued to provide shoe cutting dies for worldwide companies. By 1984, he had added two more companies, Nelson Supply and Style-Tech. Eventually, the fourth generation, Christopher Nelson, joined the company and helped modernize the business by adding CAD/CAM technology. Dave retired in 1999 after selling his companies.

On May 21, 1986, he married Janet Clukey and they spent 28 wonderful years sailing, golfing and traveling. Dave was a past member of the Taylor Pond Yacht Club, Falmouth Country Club and Martindale Country Club. He enjoyed working with wood and was constructing a model of the USS Constitution at the time of his death.

He is survived by his wife, Janet (Clukey) Nelson of Auburn; a son, Christopher Nelson and wife, Alison, of Minot; a grandson, Michael Nelson and wife, Tara, of Auburn and their children, Sydney and Paisley, and an unborn great-grandchild; a daughter, Angela; a sister, Sandra Martin of Auburn; a brother, Mark Nelson and wife, Loise, of Turner; his father- and mother-in-law, Richard and Betty Clukey of Mechanic Falls; a sister-in-law, Susan C. Grondin of Lewiston; and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the nursing staff and physicians on T3 for their kindness and attentive care.

You are invited to share your condolences with the Nelson family by visiting their guest book at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.