Tony Nelson Jr. of Walnut Creek, CA passed away peacefully on September 18, 2022 surrounded by his loving family.
Tony is survived by his wife Jacqueline Nelson, daughters Tane’ Nelson Horner and husband Charles, Lori Burke and husband John, and Tracy Nelson. He was preceded in death by daughter Christine Nelson in 2002. He also leaves Grandchildren and their families, Jared Milligan, Tyler Hill, Chanelle Nelson, Cory Skaife, Katherine Beard, and Jenavie Patrick. He is also survived by sisters Mary Kathleen Robertson, Deborah Glazier, brother Kenneth Nelson and his brother Larry Nelson who preceded him in death.
Born in Anton Chico, New Mexico in 1934 to Antonio and Abelina Nelson. He moved to California with his parents when he was young. He graduated from Castlemont High School in Oakland, CA and soon after was married to Jacqueline and began his long career in the construction trades as a talented tile layer. They moved to Walnut Creek in 1961 where they raised their four daughters.
Tony kept close ties with his family in New Mexico taking the family for summer vacations to Anton Chico to visit the large extended family of grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Cramming into the kitchen around New Mexican food was central to those visits and spending evenings around a campfire telling stories. Tony inherited his gift for storytelling and sense of humor from his grandmother Quetita Ruiz. He loved to make people laugh.
He belonged to a dart league around the Pleasant Hill and the greater Bay area for many years. With his penchant for joking and storytelling he had a wide circle of friends.
Tony enjoyed gardening after his retirement and propagated plants and trees and gave them away to anyone that wanted them. His favorite thing was having family over on Sundays or Holidays and cooking up brunch for everyone.
A funeral and celebration on life will be held at the Queen Of Heaven Cemetery, 1965 Reliez Valley, Rd. Lafayette, CA. on Nov. 2, 2022 @ 11:00 AM with a buffet immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to a food bank or soup kitchen of your choice.
Some suggestions are below:
The World Kitchen, a worldwide mobile provider of meals for people in need after natural disasters or war. WCK.org
Food Depot, 1222-A Siler Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, 4010 Nelson Ave. Concord, CA 94520
