Dwight Allan Nelson, of Salt Spring Island, died peacefully at his home on Thursday, February 13th, 2025 surrounded by family, at the age of 88 years after a brief illness.
Dwight was born on the farm at the Haglund house near Norquay, SK, on April 16th, 1936, the son of the late George and Esther (Haglund) Nelson. After Dwight completed his high school education in Norquay, he spent a year studying at the Covenant Bible Institute in Prince Albert, SK. He then went to work for Bob and Ernie Augustson’s Wire Line Services. These hometown (Norquay) men encouraged him to go back to school as the “day labour thing” was not for a guy with his brains and personality. Dwight returned to school and obtained a B.Sc from Camrose Lutheran College, and finished his medical school training at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Following his internship at Calgary General Hospital, Dr. Nelson began his family practice in downtown Calgary where he lovingly served his patients for 40 years.
Dwight loved the outdoors. Many weekends he could be found in the mountains hiking or cross country-skiing with his friends. He was forever curious about the world and the people in it. Dwight enjoyed gardening, birding, theatre, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends, relatives, and perfect strangers.
In 2009, Dwight married his neighbour and best friend, Anne. Two years later they decided to start a new adventure and moved to Salt Spring Island, BC. Dwight set about exploring and learning about his new island home. He especially enjoyed crabbing off his dock, hunting for sea glass on his beach, organizing magical Gnome Home scavenger hunts for his grandkids, and a good game of marbles. Their home was always open to visitors and they welcomed a lot of them.
Dwight is remembered by family and friends as a generous host, a compassionate doctor, a good friend, a dependable and helpful uncle, and a most loving father, grandfather, and husband.
He was predeceased by his parents George and Esther Nelson, brother in-law Fred Livingston, sisters in-law Barb Nelson, and Caroline Nelson. Dwight is lovingly remembered by his wife, Anne (Lee) MacLean-Nelson; Children, Matthew Nelson (Melissa), Christine Destefano; Grandchildren, Jair Nelson, Ocie Nelson, Holly Ames (Andrew), Carter Rumbold, Barrett Rumbold, Tyler Trujillo, Sydney Trujillo, Arthur Cabello-MacLean, and Cecilia Cabello-MacLean; brothers, Lyle (Ila), Larry, and James (Judy) Nelson; sisters Oriole Livingstone, and Yvonne VanDellan (Forbes); extended family, Lance “two dance” Nelson (Shelly), Mark Rivers (Myriam), Allan MacLean (Genevieve), Lisa MacLean (Jesús), and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Donations in memory of Dwight Nelson can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society: www.bccancerfoundation.com
Those wishing to leave a memory or expression of sympathy for Dwight’s family can do so at www.haywardsfuneral.ca/obituaries