Andrew Nelson laid to rest

Family and friends Saturday recalled Andrew Nelson as a man who was passionate about the military, loved his family and enjoyed living life to the fullest.

Nelson, 19, of St. Johns, a private first class in the U.S. Army, was killed Dec. 25 in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He had deployed to Iraq in September from Germany, where he was stationed and lived with his wife, Kristi.

Police on Saturday morning directed traffic outside of First Baptist Church in St. Johns.

Inside, the crowd of about 800 people overflowed into the gym and basement, where mourners were linked to the sanctuary by video screens.

Working to retain his composure, Nelson's friend Tom Stinnett recalled what he termed "spring hunting" trips, where they'd search roadsides for usable items cast off during the winter.

Among the things they found: a huge plywood pumpkin and a red, white and blue snowmobile.

"We used to spend hours combing e-Bay and dreaming of planes, trains, automobiles, and my favorite, boats," Stinnett said.

Stinnett also recalled Nelson's hard work in the swimming pool as a member of St. Johns' swim team. He was captain in his senior year, when the team beat archrival Alma three times.

Nelson's father, Alan, told the community he was grateful for its support and invited his son's friends to visit his family, which also includes wife Tami, and daughters Jessica and Stephanie, any time.

"As you all move on with your lives, and eventually marry and have kids of your own, you'll tell them stories about superheroes like Superman and Batman," he said. "Now you can tell stories about a real-life superhero."

He encouraged everyone attending to be more loving and forgiving of others.

"You never know when you might never see that person again," he said.

Laura McGuire filed out of the sanctuary with other mourners preparing to drive to Mount Rest Cemetery. She has been friends with Nelson's mother since they were in seventh grade.

She said Nelson was a good-natured child who lived and breathed for the military since childhood.

"He had everything Army," she said. "Even Army Legos."

When she heard he had enlisted, she was not surprised.

"That was a given," she said.

Aaron Downing heard the news of his friend's death on the day after Christmas.

The two attended St. Johns High School together and both graduated in 2005.

"I remember the passion he had for what he did," said Downing, of Lansing.

"He always wanted to serve his country."

From the Journal

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