Braden Blake Nelson

Rawlins native and former resident Braden Blake Nelson passed on unexpectedly Monday, Feb. 8th, 2016 at his residence in Saratoga from a heart attack. He was 58.

A visitation was Wednesday, Feb. 17 at the Carbon County Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. in Rawlins. Funeral services were held Thursday, Feb. 18 at the First United Methodist Church at 11 a.m., also in Rawlins. A brief graveside service and interment followed in the Saratoga Cemetery at 1 p.m.

Braden was born June 6, 1957 in Rawlins to Ramona M. (Handley) and Arthur C. Nelson. He was the fifth child out of 6 children, all born in a 10 year span. He was raised in Rawlins and graduated in 1976 from Rawlins High School. While growing up he was involved in scouts, 4-H and swimming. As an adult, Braden attended Gateway Electronics College in Lincoln, Neb. He also lived in Shubert and Falls City, Neb., and prior to that in Arizona, but eventually returned to Rawlins. Braden had made Saratoga his home for the past 7 years.

During his life he worked at Carbon County Hospital as an orderly, the Hanna coal mines, in the oilfield, and then the Union Pacific Railroad. He hired out with the Union Pacific Railroad as a brakeman in 1978 and worked until 1988, when he was injured on the job and ended up getting a disability after several surgeries.

Braden thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors, almost living on the river during the summers. He also thoroughly enjoyed soaking and visiting at the Saratoga Hot Pool, sometimes going twice a day. His hobbies also included catching crawdads, gardening, cooking, carving wood and stone, and tinkering with things. Braden was also a true Christian and very spiritual. He attended church at the First United Methodist Church growing up, and was later baptized at Good News Assembly of God Church in Falls City, Neb. He returned to the Methodist Church after returning to Rawlins.

Braden had one of the biggest hearts and was the type of guy to give you the shirt off of his back. He was also very kind, honest, and had a great sense of humor. Braden was also very helpful and patient, assisting his friends and family in so many ways.

Survivors are his sisters Valerie Nelson, of Rawlins, and Sonja Kraft and her husband Richard Kraft of California; brothers Arthur Nelson and Greg Nelson, both of Rawlins; nieces Tara Williams and her husband Robert Williams of Rawlins, Lauren Hall of Colorado, Erica Nelson of Laramie, and Rachael Kraft of California; nephews Tait Nelson and wife Anastasia Nelson of Colorado, and David Kraft of California; great nieces Kelsey Hunter and Karleigh Overbeck, both of Rawlins; great nephews are Jason Hoffman of Florida, David Kraft of California, and Konstantin Nelson of Colorado, and many other relatives and friends. Last but not least, Braden is survived by his faithful dog, Dusty.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ramona and Arthur Nelson, his brother Noel Brent Nelson, and his nephew Taylor Shawn Hall.

Tributes and condolences may be offered online at www.carboncountyfuneralhome.com.