Paul Eliot Nelson, 68, of Grinnell, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 11, 2022, with his loving family by his side.

Celebration of Life for Paul will be held 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 20 ^th 2022, at the Grinnell United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held Friday, August 19 ^th from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, at Cox-Smith Funeral Home, located at 1 ^st Avenue and Prairie Street.  Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. A memorial fund will be established in his name and can be sent in care of Cox-Smith Funeral and Cremation Service, PO Box 163, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.

Paul was born December 2, 1953, the son of Lloyd and Bernice Nelson in Winona, Minnesota. He graduated from Winona State University, where he met the love of his life, Merna Olson, when they shared a French horn music stand in the college band. They were married in 1978 and blessed with five children.

He initially worked at Winona State University in the Audio-Visual Department. In 1990, he was divinely led to a position at Grinnell College that combined his love of music, audio-visual recording, and a train that ran right through campus.

Paul was never one to sit still. He loved music, canoeing, trains, and traveling. At work he organized and went on yearly choir tours throughout the world. Music was a full-year activity, from playing in the community band during the summer to the Grinnell College Band during the academic year. He didn't just play in the band, he organized and directed the "We're on a Mission for God" band for Jingle Bell Holiday. Christmas was a special holiday, where he spread cheer by playing Santa for children and always had a real beard. When his children were in Sunday School, he directed a children's choir at church.

Canoeing was a favorite pastime, with several trips to the Boundary Waters with good food, family, and some bear encounters. He was always ready to outfit a canoe trip.

Trains were a lifelong hobby. He was a volunteer for Operation Lifesaver, which teaches train safety at school fairs and at the Iowa State Fair. Paul belonged to the Central Iowa Railroad Club, with a building at the Iowa State Fair, where he could run his 18-foot long train. It is fitting that he died on opening day of the state fair, because he loved working at the train club during the fair and invited all to stop in and see the display.

Paul's biggest passion in life was family. Even when Merna had to work, he would take their kids to gatherings on both sides of the family. He will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 44 years, Merna; children, Revae Nelson of Grinnell, Maureen Nelson of Sioux City, Kristel (Joshua)Widman of Sioux City, Shaina (John) Cretsinger of Hills, and Zachary Nelson of Sioux City; grandsons, Ayden, Ryan, David, and Peyton; sisters, Mary (James Balmer) Nelson of Delray Beach, Florida, Joan (William) Vaughn of Parkville, Missouri, and Deb Nelson-Rousseau of Saginaw, Texas. As well as many sisters and brothers-in-law; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was greeted into Heaven by his parents; parents-in-law, and his brother-in-law, Steve Rousseau.