Darwin Fred Nelson

Darwin Fred Nelson was born in Madison Wisconsin, July 2, 1932. His parents were Daniel Hans Nelson and Ivy May Fredrickson. Darwin attended the Madison public schools. Hawthorne and Marquette elementary schools and East Junior and Senior High graduating in 1950. He attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1954 majoring in Economics. He also received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army Medical Service Corp. He later attended the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and received a Masters Degree in 1974 majoring in Economics.

Darwin was called to active duty on October 15, 1954 as a Medical Administrative officer and reported to Ft Sam Houston in Texas. After orientation at the Medical Field Service School he was assigned as faculty. He was later sent to Europe where he served on the staff of the Chief Medical Officer for the Western Area Command. His first detail was to a dispensary at the Rhine Ammunition Depot in Meisau, Germany where he was the commanding officer. He later served on the staff of the Chief Medical Officer and was in charge of records and training for the Western Area Command. He was released from active duty on October 5, 1956 and served in the reserves until 1961.

Darwin commenced a life long love affair with Elna Guymon of Blanding Utah in Salt Lake City Utah, married on November 21, 1956. They have three children, Charles Darwin, Beverly Ann Martinez, and Melanie Peterson.

From an early age Darwin had an interest in music. He took piano lessons and in high school he played tenor saxophone in the band and orchestra. He was a member of the Don Byron orchestra which played for dances around town, did a gig on the radio station WIBA, was featured on a float during the Labor Day parade, and played for the international convention of CUNA the year President Truman spoke to the group.

Darwin's father gave Darwin his violin, Darwin took lessons but after beginner’s lessons the teacher told him it was useless to proceed further.

Darwin and Elna loved theater and concerts and went to many of the attractions that were available. Traveling was another fond pastime and they went to many places in the United States. “There is a passion and beauty to every part of the country and we saw it wherever we went”.

Darwin loved to work and started at an early age. As soon as it was legal, he peddled papers for the Milwaukee Journal Company, then for the Wisconsin State Journal. He also worked in the office collecting overdue accounts and stuffing Sunday supplements. After high school he worked odd jobs during college, Hult's Capital Chevrolet as a car washer, Wisconsin Bell as a vehicle maintenance person, for the university dorms delivering and picking up laundry and delivering bread and meat to the cafeterias. He also worked as a clerk in a dry cleaners. Much to his surprise his elementary school principal Mr. Whittich came in and recognized his prize pupil immediately. I suppose it was because they spent so much time together. He worked on building the LDS chapel in Madison and when it came into operation he became the custodian until he left for military service.

Darwin began his career after college graduation as an Agricultural Commodity Grader for the US Department of Agriculture in Ogden, Utah. He was inspecting for quality compliance the grain products moving in interstate commerce and products bought by the US Government. He was transferred to Seattle, Washington in 1960. Darwin then got a job in Price, Utah with the Bureau of Land Management in 1962 as an administrative officer in the district Office. The BLM instituted a new economic planning system and recruited personnel in the Bureau to fill the economist positions. Darwin applied and worked in that capacity in the Portland, Denver, and Kanab offices.

Darwin got an opportunity to work as an economist for the Federal Power Commission in Washington DC and went there in July 1967. He worked on several electric rate cases where he appeared as an expert witness in hearings and also did a study for the Senate subcommittee on antitrust chaired by Sen. Hart of Michigan.

Darwin went to work for Northwest Pipeline Corporation located at Salt Lake City Utah in 1973 as a Senior Financial Analyst. He retired in 1984. Worked as a Senior Tax Accountant for Wexpro Company and then went to the Army Reserve Pay Office at Ft Douglas Utah as a Payroll Clerk. Upon his retirement in 1992 he again went job hopping. He worked at many types of jobs and enjoyed all of them; Hardee's, Dans, Harmons, Delta Center, American Express, US Bank, Western Air Express and The Framery.

Darwin served a Stake Mission for the LDS church in Virginia from 1968 to 1970. He served the church in many other capacities over the years. He was an avid family history researcher and writer and spent many years working on his family history.

Darwin is survived by his children, five grandchildren, Jeffrey Tyler, Matthew Steven, and Rebecca Nicole Peterson and Alisha Brynn Ruff and Venyce Ashlyn Lunceford. Also son in laws Mike Martinez of Price. He also leaves 5 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins by the dozens, all had a special place in his heart. Preceded in death by his wife, parents and brothers Dr. Boyd L. Nelson of Rockville, Maryland and Dr. Pierce D. Nelson of Wise, Virginia and a grandson Michael Thomas Peterson.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 10:00-10:45 AM with a funeral to follow at 11:00 AM at the Whitmore Ward (6890 South Whitmore Way, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121). Interment will be held at Logan City Cemetery.