Dr. Bryan Edward Nelson, Sr., 84, passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at Blake Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, FL, surrounded by his loving family. Bryan was the son of the late Harold Nelson and wife, Christine (nee Pursifull), and the loving father of five children, thirteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Bryan was born on October 27, 1939, in Middlesboro, KY, the middle of five children: sisters, Barbara (husband Orval Vancil) of Owensboro, KY, Elizabeth (late husband Dudley Peeler) of Asheville, NC, and Virginia (husband John Thomas) of Canton, MI; brother Terry (wife Lynda) of Whitefish, MT. He spent his first few years living with the family at the Balkan coal mining camp in SE Kentucky. Afterward, they moved to Page, where he spent his elementary school years. Later, they moved to Pineville where they lived for about a year and a half. During his early teenage years, his father moved to Michigan in the pursuit of a better life for the family. A few years later, they all moved to rejoin their father in Michigan.
The transition from rural life to city life during high school was not easy for Bryan. But despite his shyness, he was able to adapt exceptionally, making many friends and continuing to excel in everything he did.
Bryan graduated from Lowrey High School in Dearborn, MI, class of 1957. At Lowrey, Bryan was captain of the tennis team and co-captain of the basketball team, where he was the high scorer his senior year. He was also on the track team, was a member of the Varsity and Booster Clubs, and was voted the nicest member of his senior class.
After high school, Bryan graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. While at Wayne State, he played on the basketball team for two seasons. Following his tenure at Wayne State, Bryan graduated from the University of Michigan, where he earned his degree in medicine. It was during this time that his first son, Bryan Jr. (wife Tammy) of Chillicothe, IL, was born.
Once Bryan completed medical school, he served his country by joining the US Army in the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY, where he was stationed for two years. After serving, Bryan moved to Columbus, IN, where his three sons, Terry of Omaha, NE, Jarrod (wife Raquel) of Huntsville, AL, and Chad (wife Anne) of Andover, VT, and his daughter, Nicole (husband Michael Mannon) of Bradenton, FL, were born. In Columbus, Bryan served his community as a family practitioner for 32 years, where he was warmly referred to as Doc Nelson. In addition to practicing family medicine, he also served as Medical Examiner for one year, and was for a brief period of time the Chief of Staff at Columbus Regional Hospital.
Bryan briefly retired for two years after moving to Bradenton, FL, in 1999. His retirement was short-lived, however, as he returned to his love of practicing medicine and serving his local community once again for another 18 years.
As a child, Bryan excelled in almost every activity and sport, especially basketball, and even rock throwing, if you ask his siblings. At County Fairs, he would win competitions for art, free throw shooting and mathematics. In basketball, he was a great team player and skilled shooter, once making seven points in fifteen seconds.
Bryan enjoyed many hobbies and interests over the years, including sailing, fishing, UK basketball, gardening, playing guitar, cooking, beekeeping, and stained glass, to name a few. He loved word puzzles and would complete the New York Times Sunday crossword almost every week. He was also an avid college sports fan, not limited to basketball. He was well-rounded, and enjoyed reading (he loved John Grisham novels), as well as going to the theater.
Bryan showed a genuine interest in everyone he met. When meeting a new patient, he introduced himself by saying, “Hi, I’m Bryan” and not “Dr. Nelson”. He would always ask where the patient was from and learn as much about their history as he could; he wanted them to think of him as a friend first, and their doctor second. He wanted to know each patient on a personal level, as his patients were really a second family. Later at home, he loved to recall the stories he learned from the many people and patients he had met that day.
Bryan’s consideration for others was unmatched. He would often leave a cooler with drinks and provisions for workers at the house on hot days. He would even offer his home to those in need. Bryan touched the lives of everyone he met and will be dearly missed by everyone fortunate enough to have known him.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Columbus, IN, this summer, please contact Nicole at annelson0286@gmail.com for more information. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street, Bradenton, FL 34209, is in charge of arrangements.
