Kenneth "Ken" M. Nelson

Kenneth M. "Ken" Nelson, 88, of Cimmaron Trail, Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away May 8, 2010 at Carlsbad Medical Center. Visitation will be 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 2:00 PM, at First Baptist Church with Rev. Randy C. Land officiating. Interment will be at 4:00 PM in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard will provide military honors. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Kenneth M. Nelson was born January 6, 1922 in Ames, Iowa. He attended college at Iowa State University. During World War II, he was stationed in Carlsbad at the Army Air Corps Base and was a member of the air field band. After the war he returned to Iowa to finish his college education. He always said that he came back to Carlsbad in 1948 to escape the Iowa winters, but he was also drawn by the friendly people he had come to know. That same year, he met Libby Taylor at First Baptist Church. Ken and Libby were wed in 1950 and were blessed with three wonderful daughters. Ken worked as a bookkeeper for Corner Drug Store and later became partners with George Browder at the Browder-Nelson Real Estate and Insurance Company. In the late 1960's, the company became Ken Nelson, Realtor and was in business until 1994 when he retired. He was a member of the Jaycees, a long-time member of Kiwanis Club, where he led the singing and was involved in many other civic related boards and activities. Ken's real love and gifting was music, especially jazz. He was very active in the music program of First Baptist Church where he sang in the choir and served as a percussionist. His "Next to the World's Greatest Jazz Band" was a fixture at Kiwanis Pancake Day and many other civic events. He taught numerous students to play the drums, including his daughter, Lisa and two his grandsons. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Libby Nelson of Carlsbad, NM; three daughters: Deanna and husband, Dr. Tom Cable of Corpus Christi, TX, Cindy and husband, Mike Bridges of The Woodlands, TX and Lisa and husband, Tom Dillon of Artesia, NM; five grandchildren: Jessica Bridges Clements and husband, Scott of Katy, TX, Nelson Cable and wife, Laura of Savannah, GA, Clayton Cable of Corpus Christi, TX, Scott Bridges of Laramie, WY, Elizabeth Bridges of Waco, TX and two great-grandchildren: Harrison Clements and Katelyn Cable. Honorary pallbearers are First Baptist Church Deacon Body. Memorial contributions may be made to Carlsbad Gideons International, P.O. Box 391, Carlsbad, NM 88221-0391 or Lakeview Christian Home, 1905 West Pierce Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.