Wayne H. Nelson

Wayne Nelson passed on December 6, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Wayne was born in Long Prairie, Minnesota, on May 23, 1941, to Eleanor (nee Evans) and Howard Nelson. He grew up on a farm in Randall, Minnesota, with sisters, Judy, Diane, and brother Jim. Wayne enjoyed many adventures on the farm and in town along with his Nelson cousins, the self-declared Minnesota Rangers, and best friends Dothan Aleshire and Lauren Bentler.

Wayne was completely devoted to his family, who have countless fond memories of their many years with him. He is survived by his wife, Judy, and his children, Scott Nelson, Darci (Peter) Kaul, Carrie (Paul) Vollmer, and Tim (Sara) Nelson, as well as grandchildren, Haley Kaul, Andrew Kaul, Adam Kaul, Ryan Nelson, Chloe Nelson, Bodie Shinnefield, and Alex Vollmer.

Wayne served in the U.S. Air Force for four years in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, where he was introduced to mainframe computers. Following his service, he met and married Judy and embarked upon higher education in computer programming, receiving a BA from Metropolitan State University and MBA from University of St. Thomas.

Wayne had a storied career in software engineering, working for top financial companies, including Charles Schwab, Lehman Brothers, U.S. Bank, and many large companies in the Twin Cities. He worked across the country in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, with Judy occasionally accompanying him on location. His expertise was in high demand over these many years through his own consulting firm, Software Plus.

Wayne’s life was marked by his deep intellect and curiosity. A natural problem solver, he could learn to master nearly any task or project that he devoted himself to. He embraced a wide range of interests, from gardening, caring for the swimming pool, working with pottery and supporting Judy’s ceramics business. He also loved downhill skiing, fishing, playing billiards, and bowling. He had a great sense of humor and sharp wit shaped by his love of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers.

Wayne was a gentle and devoted family man, always quick to offer help to others. He and Judy are long-time residents of Columbus Township/Forest Lake for over 50 years. Judy and Wayne enjoyed their travel adventures. They wintered in Texas for 15 years, where Wayne cultivated many friendships, new hobbies, and learned how to dance. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and community.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 13, 2025 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake.  The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service.  A luncheon will follow.  Interment will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 19, 2025 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.