Jacob Patrick Nelson, 21

Published 9:31 am Thursday, July 21, 2011

Jacob Patrick Nelson, 21, of Bigfork, Minn., and formerly of Austin, died July 11, 2011.

Jacob (Jake) was born Sept. 6, 1989, in Austin and attended preschool and elementary school in Lyle, Minn. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where he was baptized. He and his family moved to Bigfork in 2001. He was confirmed at the Bigfork Lutheran Church in 2005. He attended Bigfork High School where he became a gifted athlete and student. He participated in basketball, football and track and received many awards for his amazing talents and efforts, which are too numerous to mention. He was a member of the National Honor Society and was Outstanding Spanish Student of the year 2006.

Jake graduated with honors from Bigfork High School in May 2008. He was attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth for the past three years, working toward a degree in pharmacy. He has been an employee for the past four years at the Bigfork Valley Hospital Pharmacy.

Jake volunteered his time as a stage hand for several productions at the Edge Center for the Arts in Bigfork. He enjoyed playing basketball and softball. Most of all, he loved fishing. Little American Falls was his favorite fishing hole, and he spent many, many hours with his friends casting for the elusive walleye. Jake was loved and well respected by the entire community of Bigfork. He will be missed dearly by his family and friends.

Jake is survived by his parents, Paul and Kristi (Kaczor) Gustafson, Patrick Nelson; brothers, Kyle (Kandis) Gilbert, Kirk Gilbert, Jaren Gustafson; sister, Julia Nelson; niece, Kiley Gilbert; maternal grandmother, Amber Kaczor; paternal grandmother, Mary Nelson; step-grandmother, Florence Gustafson; uncles, Tony (Debbie) Kaczor, Mike (Gertrude) Kaczor, Larry (Carolyn) Kaczor, Jerry (Jody) Kaczor, Tom (Kim) Nelson, Craig (Peggy) Nelson, Rick (Julie) Nelson, John (Lynn) Nelson, Mike (Kathy) Gustafson, Larry (Geri) Gustafson, Brad (Janet) Gustafson, Kevin (Rory) Gustafson; aunts, Sharon (Maurice) Gerak, Diana (Mike) Adams, Deb (Merv) Johnson; 41 cousins and several extended family members.

He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Edwin Kaczor; paternal grandfather, Don Nelson; maternal uncle, Ron Kaczor; step-grandfather, Gene Gustafson.

If you wish, please send monetary gifts to the First State Bank of Bigfork, Jacob Nelson memorial fund, P.O. Box 257, Bigfork, MN 56628. Carroll Funeral Home, Deer River, Minn., is in charge of arrangements.