Jack J. Nelson

Jack Jay Nelson, 77, of Waco passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at Hillcrest Baptist Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 29 at St. Louis Catholic Church. Burial with full military honors will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 28 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Blvd., Waco. The family will receive guests after the funeral mass at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard and Dorothy Ott, 1324 Westwood, Waco. Jack was born Feb. 28, 1927, in Toledo, Ohio, to C.O. “Kelly” and Helen Bignon Nelson. He graduated from Jonathan Dayton Regional High School in Springfield, N.J., in 1945. Jack was drafted into the Army during WWII and served from 1945 to 1965. He was commissioned in 1949 and retired as a Major in the Corps of Engineers as a Senior Aviator. During his distinguished 20 year career, Jack served with the 1st Infantry Division during the European Occupation, with the 36th Engineer Group in South Korea, and with the 521st Aviation Company, 30th Engineer Group in Libya and Alaska. He also served at numerous stateside posts, including two stints as a Senior Instructor at the U.S. Army Primary Helicopter School in Fort Wolters, Texas, and with the Test Evaluation and Control Group of the 11th Air Assault Division Test in Fort Benning, Ga. After retiring from the Army in 1965, Jack moved to Waco with his wife, Joy, and raised their children, Mark, Lynn, Cindy and Scott. Jack was a business consultant and real estate broker from 1965 to 1974. After going back to school and eventually earning a B.S. and M.S. in counseling from American Technological University in 1976, Jack entered private practice as a licensed professional counselor in Waco from 1978 to 1989. Jack also served as an associate clinical psychologist for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice from 1990 to 1991. He also taught at McLennan Community College and Texas State Technical College, formerly Texas State Technical Institute. Jack was a humanitarian, a counselor, an educator and a community advocate, serving as a member of the Waco Chamber of Commerce Welcoming Committee, the Waco Zoning Board, the McLennan County Republican Party, St. Louis Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the Texas A&M Association of Former Students, the Order of Daedalians and the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, Jack was a devoted Lions Club Member, recently receiving a remarkable 34 year perfect attendance award. Jack also served as president of the Northwest Waco Lions Club from 1969 to 1970, and the Waco Founders Lions Club from 1984 to 1985. He also served as Zone Chairman and District 2x3 Governor from 1988 to 1989. Jack received the Lion of the Year award and the Tom Kirkham Leadership Award in 1983. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joy. Survivors include his sons, Mark and Scott; daughters, Lynn Hosie and Cindy Castilleja; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Society or to the Texas Lions Camp. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook”, www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. --