Vernon Nelson

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Vernon J. Nelson, known affectionally to many as Vern, Vernie, or VJ. Born August 17, 1945 in American Fork, UT, he brought joy and happiness into the world for 80 years. As a lifelong resident of Orem, Utah, Vernon was a pillar of the community, known for his kindness, love of life, and an unwavering devotion to his family, and friends.

Vernon grew up surrounded by the love of his parents and siblings—an upbringing that instilled in him the core values that defined the rest of his life. From an early age, he possessed a drive to accomplish whatever he set his mind to.
Through Scouting, Vernon developed a strong sense of character and community, culminating in his proud achievement of earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Orem High School in 1963 where his grit and relentless determination shone through on the wrestling mat. His countless hours of hard work paid off when he won the High School State Wrestling Championship.

At the age of 19, Vernon proudly served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Minnesota Mission. His faithful service established a foundation of faith that set a lifelong example for his sons, to serve missions themselves.

During the height of the Vietnam conflict, while many of his close friends were drafted to fight on the front lines, Vernon enlisted and served honorably in the Army Reserve, doing his part to serve his country with duty and pride.
When he wasn’t serving or competing, Vernon was most at home in the great outdoors. He cherished hunting, and camping trips with his brothers, sons, and close friends, creating memories and classic campfire stories that only grew better with each passing year.

Vernon learned the value of hard work directly at his father’s side, mastering the art of woodworking, carpentry, and building. He took immense pride in working with his hands—a craft that not only brought him lifelong joy, but served as the solid foundation that sustained him as a devoted provider. His exceptional skills as a carpenter led him to a long, distinguished career at Geneva Steel, where he remained a mainstay for decades, bringing his steady work ethic to the job every single day until his well-deserved retirement. He then went back to school and earned his Associates Degree from Utah Valley University.

Beyond his career, Vernon was known as someone who never hesitated to lend a helping hand. He would often drop everything at a moment’s notice to assist anyone in need or to serve faithfully in his church callings. Throughout his life, Vernon enjoyed many hobbies including coin collecting, raising and racing pigeons, bee keeping, rock polishing, and making hand made gifts for family and friends.

The true heart of Vernon's adult life began when he met his sweet wife, Carol Lyn. They were sealed together on March 20, 1968 in the Manti Utah Latter-day Saints Temple. Together, they built a lasting marriage rooted in love, partnership, and shared values, creating a warm, energetic home as they raised their four sons: Vance, Clint, Jerry, and Chad. Vernon passed down his work ethic & skills, his love for the outdoors, and his steady strength to his four sons.

As his sons grew, Vernon stepped up to serve as their Scoutmaster. A legendary highlight of his Scouting service was his passion for the annual Pinewood Derby. Blending his love for Scouting with his master carpentry skills, Vernon hand-crafted custom wooden trophies for every single participant—making sure every young boy walked away feeling like a champion, win or lose.

Later in life, following Carol's passing, Vernon was blessed to find love and companionship again when he married his second wife, Betty, who brought him continued joy and support. The highlight of each year was camping at Pine Lake, where Vernon proposed to Betty. Vernon and Betty cherished being together, and you would always see them holding hands. The new bonus family brought double the grandkids, and great grandkids, which he treated as his own. Together, they loved attending many family birthday gatherings, gymnastics, dance recitals, cheerleading, and soccer games. They also enjoyed camping, watching BYU football games, rock hounding, Disneyland, and traveling to visit family. They even went back to Minnesota to visit where Vernon served his mission.

Vernon was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carol; his father, Vernon W., his mother, Julia Marjorie; his brothers, Larry and Karl, and his sister, Karen. He is now reunited with his dear friends, Chad Campbell, and Val (Huck) Atwood.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; his siblings, Stanley (Frankie), Stella (Bruce), and Cory; his sons, Vance (Naheeda), Clint (Sandra), Jerry, and Chad (Sheri); and his cherished grandchildren: Tristen (Bela), Tatiana (Garret), Nathan, Whitney, Parker, Garrett, Emma (Tyson), Kylah, and Oakley.

Vernon leaves behind a rich legacy of faith, craftsmanship, service, mentorship, and unwavering devotion to his family. His presence, his stories, and his steady, helping hand will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be remembered for his gentle heart, his quiet strength, and service to others.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, July 30 at 6pm at Nelson's Mortuary, 4680 N. University Avenue, Provo Utah. Funeral services will be held on Friday July 31 at 11:00 am, with a viewing before from 9:30-10:30, at the Church at 590 N. 900 W. Orem Utah 84057. Graveside Service at Orem City Cemetary, 12:30-1:30.

We invite everyone to leave their memories, stories, and upload photos of Vernon on his memorial page. This will help us all remember the joy and love he brought into our lives.