Dale Nelson, Jr.

Dale Rodger Nelson Jr. (“Big D.”) passed away on April 5, 2022 in Hays, Kansas. He was traveling from Saint Louis, Missouri back to his home in Denver, Colorado with his wife, Shari. This was a trip he had taken many times, traveling back and forth for business and to visit his children and grandchildren spread across the country from Denver to Saint Louis to Long Island, New York. Dale loved his family and put them above all else.

Dale was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina on February 7, 1957 to Dale Rodger Sr. and June Marie Nelson. He was the second of five children and grew up very close to his older sister, Debbie, two younger brothers, Robert and Jeff, and his younger sister, Mary. Shortly after Dale's birth, the family moved to Wahpeton, North Dakota, where he grew up a happy and rambunctious child.  Dale was always getting into something (mostly trouble), and loved to tease his younger sister, Mary. His mother says he was such a sweet boy. Dale's love of sports started young; he particularly loved winter sports and ice hockey. Dale graduated from Lisbon High School where he formed deep bonds, maintaining contact with his classmates throughout his life.

In 1977 Dale moved to Omaha and lived with his Uncle Lyle, with whom he was incredibly close. Dale also spent time living with his parents in Omaha, speaking to their enduring bond. While in Omaha, he drove a taxi and worked for Nebraska Furniture Mart. In 1980, Dale made the big move to Denver, Colorado, working miscellaneous sales jobs until landing a position working for Thomas McCann at Resort Telemarketing Inc. in 1986. It turns out, Thomas had an amazing younger sister, Sharon Louise McCann, who became Dale's wife and best friend.

His love for Shari and her young daughter, Meagan Kelly Moodie (McCann), was unwavering throughout their beautiful thirty-five years of marriage. Dale and Shari were married on October 9, 1987 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. He immediately embraced and loved the role of “daddy” to his sweet girl, Meagan, and never considered her anything but his first-born child. Dale and Shari welcomed four children together: their oldest son, David Paul, on May 5,1988; their second son, Christopher Dale, on November 9, 1989; their second daughter, Kayla Marie, on August 27, 1991; and their third son, Dale Rodger III, on September 19, 1992. Dale’s greatest joy in life was being a father.

Dale and Shari raised their five children in Denver, Colorado, living close to Shari’s parents and most of her siblings. Their home was always the hub for family and friend gatherings, and was overflowing with love, laughter and a ton of photos. Dale loved showing off his “dad wall” filled with photos of him and his children to anyone who visited. Dale shared his love of life with his in-laws, his siblings, his nieces and nephews, and many family friends. He spent his days completely devoted to his family, bringing his kids to Catholic school each day and, against Shari’s wishes, blasted Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In the Wall, specifically the lyrics “We Don’t Need No Education” almost daily on the ride. This is one of many cherished memories for Dale's children. Although the words of the song may suggest otherwise, Dale raised his children to put their best effort into school and their extracurricular activities, supporting them every step of the way. Dale always found the time to be at every basketball, football, baseball game, dance recital, school show, or any other activity for his kids. He was their biggest fan and supported each of his children in pursuing their dreams.

Dale was also an extraordinarily hard-working man. He ran a windows and siding business that, through his ability and dedication, became a thriving roofing and construction business that he passed to his sons, Chris and Dale. This allowed Dale to embark on his next great journey in life, which was being a "Grampie" to his six grandchildren. The only thing Dale may have loved as much as being a husband and dad, was his role as "Grampie." He planned to spend the rest of his days traveling with Shari to see his grandchildren. His oldest granddaughter, Arya Kay, had given him a paper heart on one of his visits to New York. He carried that heart with him everywhere. When he would FaceTime her, he would pull at the heart, saying “look, Arya, what do I have?” And she would reply, “You have my heart, Grampie.” His heart was so full of love for his family.

Dale embodied pure joy and love for life. He was the life of the party and always had a beaming smile on his face. Dale had friends and loved ones spread throughout the country. He made friends everywhere he went—truly, everywhere. His family would be waiting to leave a restaurant, but Dale would be busy making a new dear friend. If you were lucky enough to know Dale, you had an amazing friend in him. Dale was a sports fanatic, especially for the Denver Broncos. One of the most cherished family memories was the celebration of Dale’s 60th birthday, which landed on the exact date of Super Bowl L, where the Broncos beat the Panthers. Dale and the family invited everyone they knew to a party at their home, loaded up the numerous (and sort of infamous) family black trucks, and headed downtown to celebrate the win. Dale was always the host extraordinaire, making sure everyone was involved, had a full drink and belly, and that the game was loud enough on the TV for everyone to hear.

The weekend just before Dale's passing, he was able to celebrate the baptism of his newest granddaughter, Charlotte, born to his youngest son, Dale, and his wife, Nicole, in St. Louis. Dale also welcomed his youngest grandson, Lachlan, born to his oldest daughter, Meagan, and her husband, Craig, on March 14, 2022. The family is blessed that Dale was able to meet and spend time with Charlotte and Lachlan. Dale and Shari were planning to visit New York within a few days to see his four grandchildren, Arya, Augie, Jack, and Maeve, where they would celebrate Augie’s fourth birthday, Easter, and Maeve’s baptism. Dale was also so looking forward to the (post-Covid) celebration ceremony for the wedding of Dale and Nicole. These celebrations will never be the same without him.

Dale was predeceased and will be welcomed into Heaven by his grandparents, Ella Mae Palmquist and Elner William Nelson, and Pauline DeFries and Christian Olthoff; his father, Dale Rodger Nelson Sr.; his brother, Robert Dean Nelson; his Aunt Georgia “Jo” Nelson; his cousin, Scott Joseph Nelson; and his brother-in-law, Timothy Harvey Jensen. He was also predeceased by his in-laws, Thomas Paul McCann and Sharon Quigley McCann, his brother-in-law, Patrick Theodore McCann II (uncle Ted), and his nephew, Robert Anthony Saitta.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Sharon Louise Nelson, and their five children: Meagan Kelly Moodie, her husband Craig Moodie, and their son Lachlan James of Denver, CO; David Paul Nelson, his wife Kiera Lise Nelson, and their children Arya Kay, August Tucker, Jack Oliver and Maeve Margaret of East Northport, NY; Christopher Dale Nelson of Fenton, MO; Kayla Marie Nelson of East Northport, NY; Dale Rodger Nelson, his wife Nicole Joy Nelson, and their daughter Charlotte Louise of Fenton, MO.

Also survived are his mother, June Marie Nelson, his sister Deborah Ann Jensen of Fargo, ND, and her three sons: Wade Timothy Jensen and Cassandra Ann Oss, and their son Myles Drew Jensen of Fargo, ND; Daniel Edmund Jensesn and his wife Sheena Rose McAndrew of Seattle, WA; Matthew Dale Jensen and his children Hailey Jo and Hayden James of Fargo, ND; his sister Mary Lynn Guerts and her husband Carlton George Guerts and their four daughters of Bend, OR: Sarah Jean Holmes and her husband David Matthew Holmes; Kristen Marie Coleman and her husband Ray Thomas Coleman and their daughters Kacey Lynn and Holly Rae; Emily Ann Bradley and her husband Matthew Grant Bradley and their children Adam Urban, Isaiah Paul and Hannah Lynn; Katie Jo Leonard and her husband Ross Michael Leonard and their children Zoe Grace and Rhett Michael; his sister-in-law Juli Ann Schultz of Delamere, ND and her son, Jonathon Robert Nelson with his wife Melissa Lynn Nelson of Minneapolis, MN; his nephew Sean Michael Nishi and his wife Ayaka Nishi of San Francisco, CA; his niece Mackenzie Leigh Nelson of Lisbon, ND (working in South Korea); his brother Jefferey Paul Nelson and his wife Deidre Marie Nelson of Wahpeton, ND and their four children; Robin Marie Carson and her husband Blake Thomas Carson and their daughter Mya Elizabeth and Quinn Marie od Fargo, ND; Nikki Lea Craigmile and her husband Brett Thomas Craigmaile and their son Foster James Eiynck of Fargo, ND; Jace Russel Nelson and his wife Kelly Jo Nelson and their children Koby Dee, Trey Paul and Macy Jo of Wahpeton, ND.

Also survived are his Uncle Lyle William Nelson, his wife Sarah Alice Nelson of Omaha, NE and his children: Pamela Jo Dyer, her husband Thomas Edward Dyer, and their children of Omaha, NE: Christopher Troy Dyer; Courtney Terese Fox, her husband Jesse Jeremiah Fox, and their daughter Miah Leigh; Susan Mae Grant, her husband Jeffrey Paul Grant Of Windsor, CO, and their daughter Cassidy Lee Miller and her son Sylas Francis Baisley of Greeley, CO; James “Jimmy” Allan Miller of Fort Collins, CO; Catherine Ann Nelson, her husband Mark Allen Arnold, and their children Alexander Allen Arnold, Kelsey Ann Dahl, her husband Jesse Dahl and children Charlotte Rose Dawn and Eli Wild, and Jackson Scott Arnold.

He is also survived by the families of his wife’s eight siblings: Teresa McCann O'Connor with her husband William J. II of Billings, MT, and children Brendan Francis O’Connor with his wife Lindsey Marie and their son Afton Joseph, of Seattle, WA; Dr. Shannon Kathleen O’Connor-Rose with her husband Dr. Alec Rose and son Finnegan Owen of New Haven, CT; Quinlan Lawrence O’Connor with his wife Iryna and son Kieran Cyrus of Helena, MT; Timothy Quigley McCann of Parker, CO and children Marissa Leigh Avila with her husband Fermin Sandoval and children Micah Fermin and Noah Benjamin of Denver, CO; Sean Ryan McCann with wife Darcie Renee and children Timothy Sean, Madigan Leigh and Lela Mae of Denver, CO; Tamara McCann Thies with her husband Gregory Alan Sr. and children Gregory Alan Jr., Aidan Alexander and Breccan Francis of Charlottesville, VA; Thomas Paul McCann II of Parker, CO and his children Lisa Marie and son Bryan Anthony of Valley City, ND, Dyanna Eileen and children Alayna Renee, Davien Cashius, Julian Armon and Alycia Jade of Olathe, KS, Michael Thomas Steven McCann Sr. and son Michael Thomas Steven McCann Jr. of Ottawa, KS, Hunter Jade, Thomas Paul III and Rylie June of Parker, CO; Patrick Theodore McCann II (Teddy) of Minnesota, Siobhan Maureen McCann and her children: Rachel Sharon Landgrebe with her husband Tory Michael and children Mia Siobhan, Olivia Rachel and Marina Michelle of Northglenn, CO; Ryan Florian Saitta and daughter Talia Rose of Denver, CO, and granddaughter McKenna Saitta of Denver, CO; Vincent Thomas McCann with his wife Kelsi Alexandere and children Vincent Thomas, Madden Ryan, Brooklyn Marie,  Venice Kelsi and Aspen Jennifer of Highlands Ranch, CO; Michael Anthony McCann and daughter Caitlin Anne of Denver, CO; and Florian Bernard McCann II with his wife Dawn Marie and children Peyton Savannah, Florian Bernard III, Macson Shea and Logan Kelly of Lakewood, CO.

The Rosary and sharing of cherished memories by friends and family will be held on Sunday, April 10th 2022 at 5:00 p.m. at Horan & McConaty, located at 1091 S. Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80246. The funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on April 11, 2022 at Mt. Olivet Crematory and Chapel located at 12801 W. 44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. The burial will occur in the McCann family plot (same location) immediately following the funeral service.  For those unable to attend the Rosary and Funeral Mass in-person, you may attend via live-stream at https://bxcited.com/dale-rodger-nelson-jr/

Dale brought so much love and kindness into this world. His hugs, kisses, smile, laughter, and voice will be missed dearly by everyone who knew him. Keep watch over us from above, “Honey,” “Dad,” “Grampie,” “Big D,” and Rest In Peace.