*Gordon Victor Nelson, age 87, of Minnetonka, Minn., formerly of Crystal, Minn., passed away on Sept. 7, 2014. Gordon was born on May 5, 1927 to Victor M. and Hulda Erickson Nelson of Braham, Minn. Gordon graduated in 1944 from Cambridge High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 17th birthday and served in WWII. He attended St. Thomas College and was a 1948 graduate of St. Olaf College. Gordon had a lifetime career in sales and management, culminating with many years as the original General Manager of Rudy Luther’s Hopkins Honda, retiring in 1992. He had a competitive spirit as a salesman, high school and college baseball and basketball athlete, duplicate bridge player, and avid golfer at Golden Valley Country Club. He was a longtime member of the Hopkins Rotary Club. Gordon took special joy in the achievements of his children and grandchildren, and is remembered for his laughter and jokes, loving support, confidence, intelligence, and encouraging optimism. Gordon often expressed gratitude about having had the good fortune to be married to “two wonderful women”. He met his first wife, Jane, in Ottumwa, Iowa, where he began his sales career with Goodyear Tire. After marrying, they lived in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois before settling in Crystal, Minn., where they raised six children together for many years prior to her passing. He then found a new love for his golden years, marrying Bobbie in 1993. He and Bobbie were blessed to have over two decades together in retirement, enjoying global travel, golf, music, family, and friends. Besides his first wife of 42 years, Jane, Gordon is predeceased by his parents; his sisters, Ruth Alvin and Bette Kannenberg; and his oldest daughter, Claudia Nelson. He is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Bobbie; his children, Douglas and wife Alison Jones, Jeffrey, Stephanie Schmit and husband Steve, Charlotte Nisleit and husband Rick, and Gregory and wife Kathy; his son-in-law, Jeffery Spanel; and Bobbie’s children, Christie Jones and husband Howard, Gary Duncan and wife Pam, and Michael Duncan and wife Kay Rezanka. Gordon is also survived by numerous grandchildren: Morgan and husband Marcus, Nick, and Liz Spanel; Blake and wife Christine, Peter Nelson ’07 and wife Anna, and Jessica Nelson ’11; Joanna, John and wife Kelsie, Daniel and spouse Tobie, Erika, and Ben Schmit; Amanda Jensen and husband Dave, Sarah Peterson and husband Zach, and Carly Nisleit; Kevin Nelson; Rachel Jenner and husband Ryan, and Russ Schmidt and wife Mindy; and Lindsey Bathrick, Heather Tripp, and Casey Smith and spouse Jamie. Gordon is also survived by great-grandchildren, Noah, Ella, Eva, Bentley, Remington, Justin, Ethan, and Ian; and by many dear friends. Memorials preferred to Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota chapter or to Excelsior United Methodist Church.