Obituary of Lauritz "Lefty" Nelson

Lauritz E. "Lefty" Nelson, 85, of Emeritus, 220 Southwestern Drive, formerly of Port St. Lucie, FL. and Jamestown died at 11:44 p.m. Monday (April 7, 2014) in WCA Hospital. A Jamestown native, he was born November 29th 1928, a son of late Ernest and Emma Petersen Nelson, and a graduate of the Lakewood Branch of the Southwestern Central School. Lefty proudly served his country and is a US Army veteran of the Korean War. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal October 23, 1952 from the 76th Engineer Construction Brigade. He was a retired detective of the Jamestown Police Department who in his retirement enjoyed reading true crime and detective books. He was also employed as an investigator for the public defender's office, and later employed by The Resource Center, as well as The Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club in Palm City, FL. Lefty was a member of the Lakewood American Legion Post #1286, as well as a life member of the Jamestown Elk's Lodge #263, where he served as Exalted Ruler and was a past District Deputy and State Major Project Chairman; a life member of the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club serving on their board Board of Directors for 9 years as President , Vice President and Secretary; and a life member of the Korean Veterans Association. Throughout his life, Lefty was an avid golfer enjoying courses throughout Western New York and Florida. He loved to socialize, could light up the room, and bring life to any gathering. He made distinct efforts to get to know a person's individual 'story' and had an uncanny ability to remember them. Surviving are three daughters: Karie (John) Carlson of Jamestown, Kathy (Richard) Crawford of Cooperstown, PA and Kelly (Timothy) Seymour of Port St. Lucie, FL; eight grandchildren: Rhonda (Matthew) Prusak of Avon, OH, Kendra Carlson of Pittsburgh, PA, Olivia Carlson of Jamestown, Tim (Tiffany Copley) Lee of Oil City, PA, Kelsey (Jason) Newton of Richmond, VA, Nathaniel Lee of Oil City, PA Heidi Seymour of Port St. Lucie, FL and Corey (Jena) Seymour of Pittsburgh PA; eight great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Nelson, Nellie Nelson, and Patricia Rugg; and three special nephews: Jim, Jeff, and Kevin Nelson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Rugg Nelson, whom he married March 15, 1952 and who died April 27, 2010; and three brothers, A. Edward, Rodney E. and Sydney W. Nelson. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the Lind Funeral Home. Pastor Kevin Costner will officiate. Inurnment will be in the Bentley Cemetery, Lakewood. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home, and for one hour prior to the service in the funeral home Saturday. An Elks Lodge Memorial Service will also be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday. Memorials may be made to the WCA Hospital 2014 Wish List in Lefty Nelson's honor, for the exceptional care he received, at P.O. Box 840, Jamestown, NY 14702-0840.