- Date Of Birth: May 7, 1953
- Date Of Death: December 28, 2021
- State: Indiana
Larry Michael Nelson of Lafayette, Indiana passed away Tuesday December 28, 2021, at home in North Carolina. He was born May 7, 1953, in Lafayette to Melvin and the late Dorothy (Kaiser) Nelson. Age 68, Larry was a two-year survivor of pancreatic cancer. Never alone during his final days, Larry spent his last moments in the loving embrace of his two daughters, Kristine and Tiffany.
After graduating from Central Catholic High School in 1971, Larry enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1972 at the age of 19. After serving 20 years as a C-130 Loadmaster and Aircraft Armament System Specialist, he retired from the Air Force in 1992 as a Master Sergeant. After leaving the Air Force, Larry worked for the United States Postal Service in Lafayette, retiring in 2012. An avid outdoorsman, Larry enjoyed hunting and fishing trips to Minnesota, Alaska, and Florida, as well as going to the casino. He spent his retirement years travelling, reconnecting with friends from the Air Force, and reveling in his role as Papa to his three grandsons. Undaunted in the face of his diagnosis, he fulfilled a lifelong dream in his final year by serving as First Mate on a charter fishing boat alongside his good friend Eric in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Surviving is his daughter Kristine M. (husband Russ) Montgomery of Petal, Mississippi, his daughter Tiffany A. (husband Scott) Heaward of Zebulon, North Carolina, and his grandsons Landon, Noah, and Nathanael. Also surviving is his father Melvin “Nellie” Nelson of Lafayette, sister Peg Richardson of Lafayette, brother Steve (wife Kathy) Nelson of Fort Branch, sister Debbie (husband Jerry) Cox of Lafayette, sister Jani (husband Brian) Dunham of Prosper, Texas, along with 10 nieces and nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy “Dottie” Nelson.
