Obituary of Raymond Nelson

Nelson ~ Raymond Joseph Home builder and philanthropist, Raymond J Nelson died September 20, 2010 at the age of 90 years. Predeceased by his wife, Marie, September 30, 2009, they were married December 29, 1952. He is survived by daughters Allyson Nelson (Richard Gaudreau), Glenda Elkow (Terry), Tannis Boissonnault (Phil), and son, Scott Nelson (Hilda), eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. At his death, Ray remained the oldest person in the world to have received a heart transplant. The operation was performed December 27, 1999 at the University Hospital in Edmonton, AB. He was 79 years old at the time. He was grateful every day for his new heart and it sustained him for over ten more years. Born June 2, 1920 in Frontier, SK. Ray was the last living descendant of Nels and Emma Nelson. His parents moved from Fosston, MN to Saskatchewan in 1911. A couple of years later they established a new home on a land grant south of Frontier, which they received from the railroad. There they raised their family of six children that included sisters Esther and Evelyn, and brothers Stanley, Austin, Raymond and Willard. After serving in the Canadian Armed Forces for 4-1/2 years during World War II, Ray was discharged April 23, 1946. He moved to Lloydminster to work with his brother, Austin, at Beaver Lumber. Together they founded Nelson Lumber Company Ltd. in a granary on March 1, 1949. Nelson Homes began in 1952. That division of the company designed, produced and delivered modern pre-engineered panelized home packages to families throughout Western Canada, the United States and into Asia. The Company was sold in October 2003 to an employee group. When the business was sold it had over 800 employees, had shipped over 30, 000 homes, operated retail building supply stores in Lloydminster, Edmonton, Bonnyville, Grand Prairie and Slave Lake, as well as three modular home plants named SRI Homes, and the Hemstock & Hearthstone assisted living retirement residences. A respected entrepreneur and businessman, Ray was a founding director (1975 to 1992) of Alberta Energy Company (now EnCana Corporation). Other noteworthy directorships included Alberta Power Limited, British Columbia Forest Products, Economic Council of Canada, and Alberta Treasury Branches. In 1996 he was inducted into the Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta Business Hall of Fame. In his community of Lloydminster, he was a member of the Lloydminster Rotary Club from 1947. He served in many community roles including the Lloydminster Municipal Hospital Board, the Lloydminster & District Agricultural Exhibition Association and the Lloydminster Foundation. He was honoured for his many contributions to the City in 1991 at a community-sponsored appreciation event and again in 2006 when a group of citizens successfully initiated the process to have the portion of Yellowhead Highway 16 within the Lloydminster city limits named Ray Nelson Drive. He was awarded the first annual Lifetime Achievement Award by the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce in 1998. The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra never performs anywhere outside of Edmonton, except in Lloydminster, all because of Ray. Due to that special relationship they recognized him with an Honorary Membership, an honor bestowed on only three other people. A thoughtful and creative man, he survived Grade 12 as the only boy in a class of 13 in Frontier, SK. Getting a university education wasn't an option. Since then he's received three honourary doctorates, an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Alberta in 1998, a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Briercrest Family of Schools in 2005, and a Doctorate of Laws from Trinity Western University in 2008. Ray regularly expressed a deep gratitude for his country and a lasting commitment to the fact that we can't serve God without serving mankind. He sought many practical ways to quietly exhibit his deep personal faith, including playing an integral role in the formation and ongoing success of the annual National Canadian Prayer Breakfast and the annual Alberta Premier's Prayer Breakfast, co-founding Southridge Community Church and Senior Citizen's Home. As well, he had a particular passion for helping young people realize their potential and ultimately their dreams. He worked closely with the American Management Association to establish a Canadian version of their Operation Enterprise program, which ran for several years. He was a busy, visionary man all his life. Retirement was never an option. His mind never stopped thinking of business opportunities as well as ways to improve and grow his community, yet there was always time for his family. As his children were growing up he spent time with them going to the lake, skiing, attending horse shows, and spending time with family and friends. Those around him knew him as a man of deep faith and much compassion, with great personal charm and a wonderful sense of humour. Driven by dreams and a vision to make things happen, he quietly used his influence to bring many worthy ideas to reality, resulting in the development of many infrastructure projects used by so many people in Lloydminster and area, and the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. If he had an idea for something, it was almost impossible to persuade him otherwise. The funeral service to honor and celebrate his life will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, September 28 in the Stockade Convention Centre at the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds, 5521 - 49th Ave., Lloydminster, SK. Condolences may be sent through McCaw Funeral Service, Lloydminster, Alberta. If you so wish, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute or the Northern Alberta Renal (kidney) Program c/o University Hospital Foundation, 8440 112 St NW Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7 or to one of the many Lloydminster community charities of your choice. Eulogy ~ by Allyson Nelson Basic Details Three thousand, nine hundred, twenty days. Or: 10 years, 8 months, and 24 days of additional life following our Dad's receipt of a new heart December 27, 1999 at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. Each time he spoke in public after that, he began each speech : "Thank God for life!" Raymond Joseph Nelson died at home (as he wanted to) September 20, 2010 at the age of 90 years. Our Mom, Marie, died September 30, 2009. They were married in Edmonton, December 29, 1952. Dad was born June 2, 1920 in Frontier, SK. He was the last living descendant of Nels and Emma Nelson, having been pre-deceased by his sisters Esther and Evelyn, and brothers Stanley, Austin, and Willard. His parents moved from Fosston, MN to Saskatchewan in 1911. His Dad was a blacksmith; his mother struggled to run a small hotel and cafe in Frontier. He will be greatly missed by daughters Allyson Nelson (married to Richard), Glenda Elkow (married to Terry), Tannis Boissonnault (married to Phil), and son, Scott Nelson (married to Hilda), eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was a man of great personal faith, much compassion, a great sense of humour and personal charm. Although there are many things his children can say about him, he has left a legacy to his family that I suspect we will only begin to appreciate the impact of in the coming days. I would like to highlight a few things about this man, my father. The world knew him in a certain way and his family knew him in another way. I hope today that I can peak through both of those views and share a glimpse with all of you. May I also say at this time, thank you for coming. It was very important to Dad that Nelson Lumber be seen as "a builder of lasting legacy". I'd like to touch on a few of his legacies today. First: A Legacy of Courage Dad often mentioned stepping off a Greyhound Bus in Lloydminster on April 23, 1946, one of those critical dates in his life. From then on, Lloydminster was his community. In one of his speeches at the annual Nelson Homes Sales Seminar he talked about his army experience. He wrote: "During those four years, I asked myself, not once but a million times, what was the future to hold for me?" He and his brother, Austin, founded Nelson Lumber in 1949. He often said "over the years we've had a poorly developed sense of fear, but have always run scared. These two were not in conflict." The courage of the entrepreneur. Founding a business and spending the time and energy that it takes to grow - and especially to grow as Nelson Lumber Co. Ltd. grew - takes a lot of courage. Each day Dad made decisions about people, resources and opportunities. No matter what was happening in the business Dad's first priority was always the people - his staff and his customers. Some things he did required just the courage of standing on the edge of the precipice and stepping out. He had a special way with so many things that was difficult for most to imagine. It was always important to Dad that he and the Company have a great reputation. One of his delights was running into someone who had bought a Nelson home after they'd been in it for several years. He would always ask - "Did we look after you well?" The courage of the patient. I had my tonsils out years ago. That's nothing in comparison to placing your life in the hands of surgeons for three major open-heart operations, including a heart transplant. Dad's decision to have the discussions and interviews necessary to receive approval to be on the heart transplant list at the University of Alberta hospital wasn't taken lightly and without great courage. He was interviewed multiple times by the U of A hospital doctors, many of whom were intrigued by his request. Not only did his tenacity help to break down the age barrier for future transplant candidates, it gave him 10-1/2 more years with his family and his extended community. Second: The Legacy of a Builder At the bottom of the R J Nelson Family Foundation letterhead this Bible verse is quoted: "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." Hebrews 3:4 Dad was a builder. If you were a Nelson Lumber customer, you bought wood, nails, and all sorts of other products so you or your contractor could build the project of your dreams. If you were a Nelson Homes customer, Dad understood you had placed one of the largest single orders of your life time - and that you were entrusting Nelson Homes to do it right. He told the sales force that in order to do that, the potential customer must have complete confidence & trust in you and the company they're buying their home from. He understood this - and tried to teach everyone else in the company this truth also. Dad was a builder in many ways - homes as I've mentioned but also people. He always encouraged us and his staff to be the best they could be, to dream big and take risks - think outside the box - do it different and do it better. For Dad it was always about looking after the details. The smallest ones were usually the most important. Glenda told me that when she worked for Dad for many years it was hard to understand this fully until a wise gentlemen told her once that Dad was the ultimate entrepreneur. Everything the entrepreneur thinks about and does gets the same energy and attention - all details are of equal importance, no matter the size. That explained it all! Third: A Legacy of Generosity & Responsibility "Of whom much has been given, much is required." Dad lived up to this maxim. He was highly intelligent and had a quick, creative mind. He was always reading and thinking. He was very energetic. He was extremely frustrated by the lack of energy he had in recent years. He didn't have a retirement plan - that's not something he had ever envisioned for his life. I remember he said to me once that many church founders didn't have great vision. They founded something small and didn't think it would grow. He would always say - they just don't put big enough parking lots with the churches. I suspect there are those in this room who have had "parking" discussions with him. I doubt it was just church parking lots he had issues with. In a list of quotes Dad collected was this one: "Helen Keller was asked what would be worse than not being able to see. Her answer - being able to see and not have any vision." He just saw things differently - a church needed "x", the exhibition grounds or hospital needed something else. It's not that these groups always knew at the time they needed these things - it was just his vision. Somehow he knew. And he would make it happen - using his connections, taking time to persuade others of the vision and often adding his financial support to ensure the vision was achieved. This facility we are gathered in today is a direct result of his vision! Dad never wasted his success. He was a steward of the financial resources he had. He re-invested in the business, in infrastructure in Lloydminster, in young people to ensure they received education, and in projects he felt needed to be done. After I attended a program in upstate New York called "Operation Enterprise", developed by the American Management Association he was so impressed he persuaded them to establish the program in Canada, first here in Lloydminster and then at Trinity Western University in British Columbia. He persuaded others to provide scholarships and he ensured sufficient numbers of kids attended each year. Through the R J Nelson Family Foundation bursaries were provided to fund religious studies at numerous Western Canadian schools - for years and years. Pastor Lyle commented to me a couple of weeks ago on the enduring legacy and impact on the spread of the Christian faith those bursaries have had. He also believed the right hand should not know what the left hand was doing. He may have given publicly and through the Foundation, but there are many who also know he gave much in private - wanting something done, but not wanting to take credit for it. Fourth: A Legacy of Faith An intense, deep personal faith in Jesus Christ. Dad took us all to church and encouraged us in our individual faiths. Over the years we've each developed our own individual perspectives about faith. This was something he was thankful for but often wondered how sometimes we could all be so different. But, this is another legacy instilled in each of us. Dad's faith was the foundation of all he did in life. It was the basis for his personal and business values, it guided the donations he made, the conversations he had with people, and the events he loved to plan. It inspired the vision for change he saw and undertook. In one of Dad's speeches I found the following: "There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less. His love is unconditional, impartial, everlasting, infinite, perfect - because God is love. If your back is to God, every step you take leads you further from him. It's as simple as that. Primarily, Christian faith is a matter of relationship. It's a case of direction. Where are we headed? Toward God or away from him." Primarily for health reasons, Dad didn't attend church very much the last few years. The church was an important building for him but he knew that he didn't have to be there to cherish his faith. He continued to meet with other faithful men and women to discuss his faith, read scripture and pray. He just wasn't always surrounded by the institution. Fifth: A Family Legacy My Dad and Mom raised four very different kids. I think it's correct to say that we are each very talented in our own individual ways, but very different. That's not always easy for a parent. Dad's parents, Nels & Emma also raised a very diverse family. One brother was a Pastor; one sister a Missionary, another & her husband ran the motel that used to be where Arby's is now; he co-founded Nelson Lumber with his brother Austin; and his youngest brother sold homes for the Company in Southern Saskatchewan. In many of his speeches Dad re-iterated things he had learned. We have listed a few of them in the program you have. - I've learned there are no unimportant acts of kindness; - I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" or "How Great Thou Art" can lift my spirits for hours; - I've learned that integrity and reputation are our most valuable assets. - I've learned that the greatest risk is in thinking too small. The danger is in the comfort zone. In the files of his speeches, I found a little brochure "13 Things to Remember", dated January 20, 1967, that he had had printed to hand out at the Harvester's Graduation Banquet, Full Gospel Bible Institute, 1968. He gave many speeches each year, often revolving around similar themes. He wanted to impart to others the sayings he found and thought had great value and meaning. And Finally, In Conclusion I think it's only fitting at this point to tell one of the jokes Dad often inserted in his talks. He had a great sense of humour and often had one or more funny stories he included when he made a speech. Perhaps his corniest, and the one I suspect many of you will also remember hearing the most was: As Elizabeth Taylor said to her 8th husband: "I won't keep you long." Now we understand the answer to the question he had asked over and over when he was in the army: what does the future hold for me? His life was a remarkable journey. As one of his children, I can say without hesitation that he had a very successful life, a very meaningful life and a happy life. He was a very spiritual man who was always thankful for the personal attributes God had given him. It wasn't always easy, but his smile and sense of humour carried him through many times. He never took life for granted. Eulogy ~ by Frank Proto I won't bore you with a long eulogy: I can do that with a short one! That is how I believe Ray would have started these remarks God only created one Ray Nelson. For thank we are thankful. Thankful because everyone here has benefited from knowing Ray. Thankful for the leadership he showed and the example he tried to set in everything he tackled. Thankful that there was only one because just dealing with Ray was mentally and physically exhausting. One of Ray's former colleagues at Alberta Energy once described Ray "like a laser beam in a mirrored room. You knew he was present. You never knew where he was going to land but when he did he always seemed to land with good business acumen and common sense." But it was also stimulating. Ray loved business. It was his hobby: his form of relaxation and fun. Not for the money that could be made but he found business was an arena in which he could use his very creative mind, his ability to size up market needs and move to get things done. He was driven by a need to create something good. And he needed to be in business for himself as he needed to set the pace. Ray encompassed all of the attributes of the "entrepreneur". He had unwavering confidence in his own judgement. He could analyze a situation quickly and accurately without need for a "survey" or a computer. He was willing to risk everything to move on one of his ideas. He never assessed the consequences should one of his ventures not succeed as failure simply wasn't an option he thought possible. Ray always looked to the future. He recognized that changes happened and wanted to be part of new things. And the drive to grow and do new things grew stronger as Ray grew older. To demonstrate Ray's confidence in the future and his ability at the time he sold the lumber and home business to his management and employees there was a tax advantage to agreeing not to reenter the business for a period of time. We had agreed on a period of ten years. At the time of the sale Ray was 83 going on 84. As he was about to sign the final documents Ray looked up and said to Doug Goss and I "it is the right thing to sell to management and my employees but ten years is a long time for me to have to stay out of this business." All of his business dealings and ventures had to encompass Ray's values. Those values had their base in Ray's strong faith in a Superior being. Honesty, respect for others, integrity, staying true to one's word, and "doing unto others: as you would have them do unto you" encapsulates Ray's method of operation. When Ray started the panelized homes operation not only did he see the market need across Western Canada he was determined that a "Nelson Home" must be a premium home. He insisted on buying the top grade of products for use in his homes and then proceeded to "grade" the top grade of product he had bought often culling out as much as a third as being unsuitable for a "Nelson Home". That commitment to premium quality and customer satisfaction paid dividends in that demand for Nelson Homes grew and remains strong to this day because of the endorsement from satisfied owners. Fourth generations of first time Nelson Home owners are buying a Nelson Home. Another trait of Ray's was that he really didn't care about how much or what he could buy for himself with his business success. He wanted to give back to his community and share his success with others who were less fortunate. Ray committed 5% of pre-tax profits to his community giving long before it was fashionable for companies to give. Even today "Imagine" the national organization set up to encourage businesses to donate to charitable causes has been encouraging a target of 2% of pre-tax. Fair and compassionate and humble would describe Ray. Ray's values had a strong Christian base. Ray was non-judgemental. And very forgiving. A few years ago employees in one of Ray's ventures got involved in a scheme through which they were stealing from Ray. They were caught and spent some time in jail for the crime. By sheer coincidence I was serving on the Board of a totally unrelated company. The owner found out that I knew Ray and told me that his company had hired one of the convicted individuals after he had served his sentence. They had hired him because Ray had called indicating "he was a very good young man who made a mistake and deserved a second chance." Ray also agreed that, in the unlikely event, a recurrence of theft should occur he would reimburse the company. Ray had a wonderful sense of humour that made him delightful to be around. After some of our tough arguments Ray would always sit back, have his sly little grin and tell a humorous story. It was Ray's way of letting you know that to him the discussion was good and needed but everything was eclipsed by the life and personal relationships. Ray did many things insisting that he not get recognition. However his impact was impossible to ignore and it was only fitting that his many contributions were recognized including three honourary Doctorate degrees, and the ABEX Award for lifetime achievement as a entrepreneur amongst many others. The last thing I need to mention is Ray's love affairs. We have heard of Ray's love for Marie and family. But Ray had other loves. His love of Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan and his community played a major role in Ray's life. He knew Canada was the greatest country in the world and Ray supported any initiative to help Canada sustain our way of life. He served his country in the army. He encouraged people to get into politics and supported individuals with differing points of view both financially and through verbal encouragement. What was important to Ray was that the individuals he supported were working to better the country and had strong principles. Ray was a good friend. He has taught me and many others lots of things. His impact on Lloydminster, Alberta and Canada has been phenomenal. He will be greatly missed.