Douglas Nelson
June 1, 1959 ~ August 18, 2024
Born in:
Crookston, MN
Resided in:
Fargo, ND
Doug’s service will be viewable here:
Douglas Allyn Nelson, 65, passed away on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND. Born on June 1, 1959, at Bethesda Hospital in Crookston, MN, he was the beloved son of Eileen Tronnes Nelson and the late Dennis Arlo Nelson.
From an early age, Douglas displayed a precocious intelligence, as he climbed out of his crib at just 5 months old, skipped crawling entirely, and began walking by 8 months. His love for learning became evident in school, where he excelled academically and consistently ranked at the top of his class. He gave graduation speeches after 6th grade, 8th grade, and again as an honor student at his senior year graduation from Northwood High School in 1977. To continue his passion for academics, he attended the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University.
In 1994, Douglas married Cheryl Lunzaga, and they had two daughters, Jasmine and Shannah, before divorcing in 2004. He was a devoted father who cherished his time with his daughters. They remember him as an intelligent, gentle, fun-loving man with a sharp wit, and always pursuing his interests with a drive for mastery, including golf, math, board games, puzzles, computer programs, and Fortnite. He also had a great enthusiasm for watching Survivor and was a dedicated fan of the Minnesota Vikings.
Douglas served the Fargo, ND community as a United States Postal Service employee at the downtown Fargo Post Office, Prairiewood in Fargo, and the Post Office Distribution Center in West Fargo for over 30 years before retiring in 2019.
Thanks to Dr. Radhakrishna Vegunta, MD, at Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center, Douglas survived nearly 3 years after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, which metastasized to his bones. Despite the challenges of his diagnosis, Douglas returned to school and obtained his bachelor’s degree in computer science from North Dakota State University in 2022 with honors.
Douglas enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, visiting many of the nation’s national parks and historic landmarks with his daughters, Jasmine and Shannah, and his mother, Eileen. His final trip was to attend Shannah’s graduation from San Diego State University in May 2023. Despite being hospitalized just days before with a staph infection, Douglas’s love for his daughters was so profound that he was determined to travel from Fargo to San Diego to celebrate Shannah’s achievement.
Douglas is survived by his daughters, Jasmine M. Nelson and Shannah M. Nelson of Temecula, CA, and Jasmine’s boyfriend, Ernesto Sanchez Santana of San Diego, CA. His mother, Eileen Tronnes Nelson, his primary caregiver, of Grand Forks, ND; brother, Dwight D. Nelson (Darlene), of Grand Forks, ND (children: Amy (James) Marriott of Hillsboro, ND, Arlen Ihrke of Grand Forks, ND, and Andrew (Sarah) Ihrke of Duluth, MN); sister, Deborah E. Nelson, of East Grand Forks, MN (children: Heather L. (Sidney) Fry (Theodore and Amos) of Fargo, ND, and Jonathan O. Sorenson of East Grand Forks, MN); and sister, medical and personal caregiver, Julie M. (Timothy) Nelson Schanilec, of Fargo, ND. Julie was born on Douglas’ birthday, June 1, 1963, when Douglas was 4 years old (children: Nicole Jackson (Jon Paul) Chamberlain (Levi) of Fate, TX, and Jared (Karen) Jackson of Fort Collins, CO).
Douglas is also survived by his aunt, Eleanore M. Tronnes Sorenson of Fargo, ND (children: Michael A. Sorenson and Jennifer M. Sorenson (Blair) Briggs (Amelia & Hudson)); uncle, Ronald A. (Marie) Tronnes, Sr., of Mokena, IL (children: Ronald Tronnes, Jr., NY; Nancy Tronnes Judeh, IL; Timothy (Allison) Tronnes, IL; Theodore (Martine) Tronnes, NY); aunt, Viola (Burton) Sorenson of Moorhead, MN (children: Greg (Debbie) Sorenson, OK, and Lori Sorenson); and aunt, Shirley Nelson (Lennard) Sorenson (children: Sheila (Mark) Nelson of St. Cloud, MN, and Brian (Jacqueline) Sorenson, MN). Cousins include Cindy Bulson (Jerry) (Odens, Debbie Bulson, and Kevin Bulson, all of Breckenridge, MN).
Douglas is also survived by his best friends from Fortnite: John Laudig, Brian Kath, Dan Webster, Greg Honeycutt, and Tyrone Heatherly, with whom he shared many fun memories and friendships.
Douglas is preceded in death by his father, Dennis Arlo Nelson; maternal grandparents, Elmer and Edna Johnson Tronnes of Nielsville, MN; paternal grandparents, Nobel and Gerda Haugstad Nelson of Shelly, MN; aunt, Gloria (Lowell) Bulson; and cousin, Steve Bulson, of Breckenridge, MN.
Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. at Boulger Funeral Home, 123 10th St S, Fargo, ND 58103, on Saturday, August 24, 2024.
Cremation has taken place, and inurnment will occur later at the St. Petri Cemetery, Norman County, Nielsville, MN, located along Highway 75 between Nielsville and Shelly, MN.
Memorial contributions in honor of Douglas may be made to the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center, 820 Fourth St N, Fargo, ND 58122; the Community Violence Intervention Center, 211 S 4th St., Grand Forks, ND 58201; or an organization of your choice.
Services
Visitation - Saturday: August 24, 2024 1:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
701-237-6441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
Memorial Service - Saturday: August 24, 2024 2:00 pm
Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center
123 10th Street S.
Fargo, North Dakota 58103
701-237-6441
www.boulgerfuneralhome.com
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I know that I will always remember him and cherish the memories that I shared with him.
My prayers go out to each and every member of his family.
no matter what you will always be FaultyBoar You will be truly missed but never forgotten
May Doug have peace after his long journey to eternal life. Our thoughts, prayers, and sympathy go out to his daughters, mother, and siblings and their families. We may not have been with him physically throughout the years but he was always in our hearts and prayers.
Love, Uncle Ron and Aunt Marie
I love you and I’ll miss you
This is beautiful.
Our bond was something special, something that I’ll cherish forever. Uncle Dougie, along with my other Uncle Bubba, affectionately nicknamed me “The Hurricane.” It was a term of endearment, a testament to how they both loved and accepted me for exactly who I am. Uncle Dougie was always there, a steady presence in my life. He showed up for the big, important moments, even when it wasn’t easy, and that meant the world to me.
One of the most unforgettable experiences we shared was when I was 16 years old, and he took me to New York City. We attended two Broadway shows: Miss Saigon and Les Misérables. That trip was life-changing. I saw the most talented singers, dancers, and actors, and it opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. He taught me to dream big, to think big, and to know that he would always support me in those dreams.
During my junior year of high school, Uncle Dougie took me to a Monday Night Football game where the Minnesota Vikings absolutely destroyed the Dallas Cowboys. It was epic, and it became one of our most cherished memories together. We always bonded over sports, and he loved them with a passion. That game was a perfect example of how much fun we had together, celebrating our shared love for the Minnesota Vikings. SKOL!
Uncle Dougie was the most loving, kind-hearted person I’ve ever known. His daughters, Jasmine and Shannah, were the absolute light of his life. He was so proud of them, and they were his greatest treasures, his life’s biggest accomplishments. Every day, he worked hard at the post office, dedicating himself to providing for them.
For years, Uncle Dougie and I lived in the same apartment building in Fargo, North Dakota. I took comfort in knowing that he was just upstairs. Moving away to Texas was difficult because it meant leaving behind that sense of security. We had a unique connection, one that allowed us to have deep, intelligent conversations about life and family. He was always transparent, honest, and authentic, qualities that are rare and invaluable.
I am incredibly grateful that Uncle Dougie was able to finish his degree and that we got an additional three years with him after his diagnosis. My mother, Julie, was a rock for him during his cancer treatments, and I can only hope to be as strong as her if I ever face such challenges.
Uncle Dougie is survived by his youngest sister (Julie), his brother (Dwight), who is equally amazing, my Auntie Deb, who are both currently fighting their own battle with cancer, and my grandmother Eileen, the matriarch of our family. She has been the glue holding us all together during these tough times.
I will never forget the twinkle in Uncle Dougie’s brown eyes, his infectious smile, and that sweet little giggle when he laughed. My son, Levi, will miss him too, as they bonded over playing Fortnite online.
Though we are heartbroken by his passing, I take comfort in knowing that he is at peace. His legacy will continue to live on in the memories we shared and the lessons he taught me. I am forever grateful that I got to tell him I loved him on his last day, and that we were able to celebrate his birthday together this year. Uncle Dougie, you will be deeply missed, but your love, your wisdom, and your spirit will remain with me always.
Love you always,
The Hurricane (Nicole), Jon & Levi Chamberlain
Love you forever,
Your sister, Debbie Nelson
We spent countless hours playing Fortnite together. I have fond memories of him being the storm master and always being the team’s support. We also enjoyed playing board games, especially Monopoly. I would often find myself losing to him and his daughters, but I remember the sweet victory of finally winning a game.
Doug’s presence brought so much light and laughter into our lives. I’ll always cherish the time we spent together, whether it was gaming, joking around, or simply enjoying each other’s company.
I remember the day he told me he loved me, and I told him I loved him too. Doug was a great father, and I have no doubt he would have been an incredible grandfather as well. I promise to take care of your daughter and your family. I love you, Faultyboar, and you will always have a room in my heart.
My kids loved when he was playing with me, my husband, or/and my dad, Greg (vaguecastle), they always got so excited to tell him hi!
You will be missed my friend!
Candi Sellin
Cousin Doug was a very smart and kind man. He was three years older than I am. I always admired and looked up to him. In 1977, I remember Mom, Dad, Lori and I went to their house in Northwood, ND. Doug and I played Scrabble. I thought I was pretty good at that game but he was great at it!
Fast forward to 2019 when Doug and I connected on Words with Friends. I enjoyed our text conversations on what was going on with him and family and I would update him on our family in Oklahoma. If I was lucky, I might win one game out of 10 games or so!
We had a wonderful time!
Doug will be missed. He had a contagious laugh and was fun to interact with since he was very calm too. He is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ now and not in any pain.
I’m praying for his and our families at this time 🙏
Love, the Kath family AKA Wisco
Doug or faulty, as I knew him, was an amazing guy/teammate. He played playing in the storm but always had our back whether in the game or in life cause we just needed to just talk. Any time my kids saw he was on they had to say hi! I would play with him all the time with my dad so my kids would just assume that he was grandpa so they would just start calling him grandpa too. He seemed to love it and get a kick out of it. He will for sure be missed by our family. And we send our condolences!
Enjoy playing in the storm Faulty! We love you!
Our journey together was one of shared experiences. Though our paths eventually diverged, your love for Jasmine and Shannah has always remained strong. Douglas was a devoted father who loved Jasmine and Shannah deeply, always striving to be there for them in the ways that mattered most.
I remember the good times—the laughter, the milestones, the moments of connection. Douglas will forever be a part of our story, and his memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
May you rest in peace, knowing that you will always be remembered with love and respect.
– Cheryl
The first story is about Doug and Dwight telling me how to ride their small Honda motorbike. Our sister, Julie, sat behind me and was excited to get going. I was told just a few things about how to drive this motorbike. So, I did what they said and held down the lever to go. I drove around the block and then through the alley to our backyard. When we got to the backyard, they yelled for me to put on the brakes. I yelled back, “Where are the brakes?” I had to drive around the block again.
I proceeded again to drive around the block through the alley and into our backyard. Doug and Dwight yelled again to put on the brakes. I repeated, “Where are the brakes?” Then about this time our mother, Eileen, came into the backyard to see what was going on. She said, “Well, they will just have to keep driving until they run out of gas”.
So, I drove around the block again through the alley and into our backyard. Then this time Doug and Dwight said, “Jump off the bike”. So, Julie and I jumped off the bike. Luckily, neither Julie or I got hurt. This is just one of the many times Doug and Dwight talked me into doing things as an older brother will do to a sister.
The second story is about how Doug and I supported each other while trying to deal with our cancer battles. I could text or talk to Doug anytime of the day. He was of great help to me when trying to manage my side effects from chemotherapy. Doug gave me advice on different things that worked for him to help minimize these effects. The days and nights ahead will be difficult because will no longer be able to talk or text Doug.
These are just a few stories about how Doug was as a person. He was a brother who could talk me into doing things. Doug was a brother who was kind, caring, and supportive.
I love and will miss him dearly.
He was gentle, loving, funny, understanding, and could talk about anything and everything.
The conversations I had with him would go on for hours and hours, and I never wanted our conversations to end. He had the most contagious goofy laugh and a sense of humor that was truly one of a kind.
He was incredibly intelligent. There’s no way for me to describe how smart he was. But he always helped me see things from different perspectives. He had a remarkable way of teaching with patience. He taught me how to drive, how to be strategic, and how to succeed in school.
He’s the reason why I was able to get my computer science degree. I remember talking on the phone with him for hours while he helped me with my homework assignments and projects. But he never just gave me the answers—he taught me how to figure them out. Because as he would say, “If I just tell you the answers, you don’t learn anything that way.”
My favorite memories with him were our summer road trips around the United States, going swimming, biking, watching movies and Survivor together, and playing board games, card games, and Fortnite.
One of the most special memories of him was when he and I went to the Vikings’ playoff game in 2018—what some of you may know as the Minneapolis Miracle. When the game ended and the Vikings had won, I looked over at my dad, and he was crying, happy tears of course.
Despite being told he would only live for one more week, I’m so proud of him for fighting for three more years, always having a positive attitude, and getting his computer science degree. That moment of him walking across the stage is something I will never forget.
I’ll be forever grateful he was my dad. I’m going to miss his voice, his laugh, and his hugs. And I know this is not a goodbye but see you later.
And just like we would say to each other every night and after playing Fortnite: goodnight, sweet dreams, and I love you.
Cancer Patients Should Receive a Medal for Battling Cancer
I am Eileen Tronnes Nelson, mother of Douglas, Dwight, Deborah, and Julie. My career is in the legal profession and not in the medical profession but I will basically try to highlight Douglas’ cancer battle.
In October 2019, Douglas went to the Emergency Room at Essentia Hospital with severe back pain, thinking it was from a many months’ earlier incident at United States Postal Service, when a mail loader device hit him in the back. However, the devastating diagnosis in October 2019 was prostate cancer, metastasized to his bones. Douglas was in Essentia Hospital about 6 weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Douglas was back in his apartment, I became the primary caregiver, with limited medical skills or knowledge. I was basically a do everything he could not physically do. Douglas took care of all his medications. He became a diabetic and took care of all the testing and insulin injections. Thankfully, Julie came to the rescue as the medical professional caregiver, advisor, and more for Douglas.
Julie contacted Hospice of the Red River Valley, and for about 6 weeks Hospice providing Douglas intensive comfort care. Julie and Douglas had discussions about his beginning treatment. Julie’s Doctor Darin Lang, MD referred Douglas to Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center. When the person begins cancer curative treatments, Hospice discontinues intensive comfort care services.
Dr. Radhakrishna Vegunta, MD, became Douglas’ doctor, prescribing the first treatment of a tablet formulated for Douglas reducing the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), a protein made by the prostate gland. This treatment worked for a time, but the PSA increased and the next treatment was infusions of Pluvicto®. The Pluvicto® worked for many months. Unfortunately, the PSA increased, insurance company approved Pluvicto® infusions to begin on Friday, August 16, 2024, the day he was admitted to Sanford Medical Center Hospital. Douglas suffered unbearable excruciating pain during the last couple days before suffering a life-ending heart attack.
Douglas, I will miss you every day.
Love & Hugs, Mom, aka Eileen Tronnes Nelson, aka Grams
As many of you know, my daughter, Deborah E. Nelson and my son, Dwight D. Nelson are fighting their cancer battles.
On March 17, 2024, Deborah of East Grand Forks, MN, went to the Altru Hospital Emergency Room in Grand Forks, ND, in severe pain and thought it could be kidney stones. The diagnosis was initially kidney cancer and thought the left kidney could be removed at Mayo in Rochester. However, at Mayo the biopsies revealed the cancer spread to the nearby lymph nodes. Deb was told the kidney removal cannot be done until the lymph nodes and renal mass on the left kidney are reduced in size. The cancer is known as urothelial cancer and a renal mass on left kidney.
Deborah requested, Dr. Radhakrishna Vegunta, the same doctor as Douglas, at the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center. Daily, Deborah battles with constant pain and suffering from a variety of side effects of the chemotherapy resulting in many trips to the emergency room, urgent care, and hospitalizations. On Tuesday this week, Deborah had another chemotherapy infusion.
Douglas and Deborah encouraged Dwight of Grand Forks, ND, to test for cancer. December 2023, Dwight’s tests indicated prostate cancer in the early stages and because it was slow growing, it was not a rush to do surgery. Douglas and Deborah told Dwight to schedule the surgery, as soon as possible, because the cancer has not spread, it will save him from pain and suffering of chemotherapy. Dwight had a six-hour prostate surgery to remove the cancer on June 10, 2024, at Mayo Hospital in Rochester MN, and is still recovering from the surgery.
My hope is about relaying Douglas’, Dwight’s, and Deborah’s cancer stories will encourage you to be tested if you have symptoms, even though not always easy to recognize, however, a blood test will reveal prostate cancer. Detecting cancer early often allows for more treatment options after receiving the news, “YOU HAVE CANCER.”
My nephew, Mike Sorenson, is now cancer free after kidney removal and chemotherapy.
Please take the advice from a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, get tested for symptoms you suspect might be cancer.