Stephen Francis Neilson

Stephen F. Neilson passed away at the Salt Lake Veteran Home on the morning of Sunday, June 7th, 2015; he was 85.

Steve was born in Ogden, UT on December 5th, 1929 to Francis James Neilson and Miriam Brown Thurman Neilson. He spent his childhood in Mount Pleasant, UT, where he played football in high school and helped his father work the land.

As a young man, Steve served in the US Navy as an electrician's mate aboard a submarine during the Korean War.

In 1959, after his military service, Steve married Mary Wright; they were married 55 years. Together, Steve and Mary raised two children: Victoria, Mary's daughter from her first marriage, and their son, Craig, born in 1960.

Steve was an avid outdoorsman, and he instilled in his family a profound respect for nature and wildlife. He loved taking his young family on trips in their camper. "No matter how tough things were, he would always find a way to take us on vacations and into nature," says his son.

In 1982 Steve's son married Janalea Tanner, who had a three-year-old son, Travis. Steve accepted Travis as his own blood and was a loving grandfather to him. Steve, Mary, Craig, Jan, and Travis could often be found fishing, hiking, camping, or snowmobiling together. There was never a shortage of laughter in Steve's family events!

Steve was quick-witted, wonderfully irreverent, jovial, and he loved his family. He knew how to enjoy the hell out of life, and one only needs to witness one Neilson family get together to understand how he taught his family to do the same.

Steve's light went out on Sunday morning, but the light and love he poured on his family lives on. Steve's family will host a celebration of life in his honor at their home located at 1383 Greenfield Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84121 (6540 S. and 13th E.) this Thursday, June, 11th at 5:00 pm. Please come casually dressed and ready to laugh and reminisce.