Kevin Patrick Ulstad Nelson

Kevin lost his life on June 5, 2017 in a tragic accident in Yosemite. Original services were held for him before his body was recovered from the Merced River. In late October of 2017, his body was found submerged in the water under a boulder about a 1/4 of a mile down river from where he fell to his death. We now are ready to lay him to rest in his hometown of Kingsburg. Friends and family of Kevin Nelson are being called to gather for a graveside service at 10:00 a.m. on June 18, 2021 at the Kingsburg Cemetery. Kevin's ashes will be placed alongside his grandparents, Pat and Alma Nelson and parents, Keith and Marilyn Nelson. We will not only be honoring his life, but all of the Nelsons that preceded him; stories, speeches and songs are welcome. ORIGINAL OBITUARY FROM JUNE 2017 Kevin left this life on June 5, 2017 at age 50. He was hiking his daily 3-mile hike, up the Mist Trail to Clark Point and back down to John Muir before work, when he had a tragic accident and fell into the raging Merced River. Although, they have not yet recovered his body, we know that he is gone from this life. He lived, worked and loved in Yosemite, his forever home. He was born and raised in Kingsburg, CA on the family vineyard, the son of Keith and Marilyn Nelson. He is the brother of DeAnn VonBerg, Karyn Nelson and Julie Lopez. He loved spending time with his many lifelong friends and his other brothers/sisters. Everybody loves Kevin! After graduating from Kingsburg High School in 1985, he set out on a wonderful adventurous life, living and working in Fresno, Hawaii, Arizona, Baja California, Cayucos and finally Yosemite, meeting hundreds of forever friends along the way. He began working on the family farms, then went into food service, sales and bartending at many various places, including the bartending at the Daily Planet and owning Zapp's Park for a period of time. He finally settled for life in Yosemite, working his day job which allowed him to do what he loved most---hiking, camping and exploring the beautiful Yosemite National Park and Wilderness. There in God's Majestic Land, he met the love of his life and soulmate, Lonna Wise. He had never been happier and they enjoyed every minute of life together. They especially looked forward to each visit from his beautiful daughter Brigid, 14, the everything of his life. Kevin and Brigid were a great pair, enjoying taking so many adventures together. Whatever they did or wherever they were, they just loved every minute of being together. Brigid is a chip off the old block and a Nelson for sure. She loves big and enjoys life and adventure. She has so much wonderful support from her mom Nancy Faria and family, her other extended family, and so many friends. Thank you for taking care of Kevin's pride and joy. As Brigid expressed, "My dad has always been big in person and in spirit. His absence will leave a hole in the hearts of everyone that knew him. Even though he is gone, he will live on through our memories and through the place he loved most, Yosemite." Kevin was preceded to Heaven to join our Heavenly Father by his grandparents Pat and Alma Nelson of Kingsburg; Arthur and Anna Ulstad of Benson, MN; Dad, Keith and Mom, Marilyn Nelson, and many other family and friends. What a fun reunion in Heaven. He's now on his next adventure... eternity in Heaven. He leaves behind his 14-year-old daughter Brigid Isabel Faria Nelson from Fresno; best friend and love, Lonna Wise from Yosemite (formerly of Washington); Sisters DeAnn, her husband Chris, Alex, and Tori VonBerg from Madera Ranchos; Karyn Nelson from Long Beach; and Julie, her husband Gilbert, and Zoey Lopez from Fresno. He also leaves behind his Aunts, Uncle and Cousins, his other family, the VonBergs, and legions of friends and extended family from all over this Earth. We thank all of you that are by our sides supporting, loving and praying for us through this long and difficult road to healing and peace. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of you on the loss of your friend as well, and to the people who witnessed this tragic accident on the Mist Trail. We thank everyone for all your generosity in helping us take care of saying goodbye to our Brother, Father, Soulmate and Best Friend and helping with the unexpected expenses. We are in the process of setting up a college fund for Brigid which people's generosity will help fund. Kevin was so proud of Brigid and her many accomplishments and wanted to support her college education and everything she did. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We feel all the love and positive energy. We will survive this and be stronger with many lifelong friends and so many amazing memories to fill our broken hearts. Thank you, God, for our time here on Earth with Kevin. Remember to always love big, enjoy life and thank God for each day we have together. That's how Kevin lived. Rest in Peace Kevin. We love you.

Kevin Patrick Ulstad Nelson

January 16, 1967 - June 5, 2017