Nathan Christian Nelson, 32, loving husband, father, son and brother, returned to the peaceful presence of his Heavenly Father on March 17, 2007. His passing was a result of natural causes following a brief illness.

Nathan was born on May 31, 1974 in Idaho Falls, Idaho the oldest child of Mark and Christine Haymond Nelson. He enjoyed scouting and earned the Eagle Scout award when he was 14. He lived with his family in Madrid, Spain and returned to Idaho Falls graduating from Idaho Falls High School in 1992. Nathan served an LDS mission in the Spain Barcelona Mission from 1992 to 1994. He graduated from Ricks College in 1996 and then attended the University of Wyoming.

Nathan married Tracey Wilcox and they are the proud and loving parents of a beautiful 10 month old daughter, Miraya.

He served in several callings in the LDS church. He especially enjoyed serving as a scoutmaster and in the Young Men's organization of the church.

At a young age, Nathan became a driven entrepreneur. At 14, Nathan started his first business. He raised turkeys and sold them at Thanksgiving time. He owned and operated the Pleasant Valley Car Wash in Casper, Wyoming. At the time of his passing, he was a supervisor for a natural gas flow monitoring company in Wyoming.

Nathan had a huge caring heart and was extremely kind to others. He always befriended those who needed help and uplifted the downtrodden. He loved animals and enjoyed nurturing sick and unusual pets. Nathan enjoyed raising and training horses. He won many awards in showing and racing horses.

Nathan's favorite interest was flying. He obtained a private pilot's license at the time of his death, was working towards his commercial pilots license. He loved restoring antique cars and repairing anything that was broken. He enjoyed outdoor sports, especially snowmobiling with his family in Island Park, Idaho.

He is survived by his wife, Tracey, and daughter, Miraya; parents, Mark and Christine Nelson of Idaho Falls and in-laws, Larry and Paula Fletcher of Riverton, Wyoming; brothers, Aaron (Lana) Nelson and Jordan Nelson; sister Natalie (Eric) Beck; grandparents, Glenn and Emma Jane Nelson and Dean and Mildred Haymond, niece, Brynley Nelson; and a nephew, Sheldon Nelson, all of Idaho Falls, ID.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 24th at 1:00 pm at the LDS Chapel at 3195 South Holmes, located at the corner of Sunnyside and Holmes, with Bishop John Strobel of the Shadow Mountain Ward officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday, March 23rd at the Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 1st Street, Idaho Falls, ID from 6:00 to 7:30 pm and one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery. The Miraya Nelson Education Fund for Nathan and Tracey's daughter has been established. Contributions can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank branch. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.