Dr. John Henry Nelson, 70, of Austin, Minnesota, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.

He was born April 3, 1945, in Hibbing, Minnesota, to John A. and Thulia M. “Toni” (Thayer) Nelson. A 1963 graduate of Hibbing High School, Dr. Nelson also attended H

ibbing Junior College before graduating from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1969. On June 29, 1968, John and Eira Joutsi were united in marriage in Hibbing. The couple raised two children. He served his country in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and then in the Army Reserves until 1977. Dr. and Mrs. Nelson moved to Austin in 1972, where he worked for Dr. Fenton until taking over Dr. Biedermann’s dental practice in 1973. This became the current day Nelson Dental, where Dr. Nelson worked until March of 2013. He was a member of American Dental Association, the Minnesota Dental Association, and the Austin Dental Society. He also belonged to the Noon Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Elks Club, the Austin Youth Hockey Board, and was past president and founding member of the Austin Lions Go Cart Unit. Dr. Nelson was a proud supporter of the Minnesota Gophers.

Survivors include his wife Eira Nelson of Austin; his son Dr. Sean Nelson, daughter Nicole “Nickki” Nelson, and daughter-in-law Megan Nelson, all of Austin; five grandchildren: Annika, Eeva, Payton, Lauren, and Nora; and his sister Nancy (Bruce) Degerness of Mesa, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Thulia Nelson.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin with Pastor Mike Olmsted officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Military rites will be performed by American Legion Post 91 and V.F.W. Post 1216. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.