George Nelson Jr

George Nelson Jr., 88, of Lutsen, died Friday, May 9, 2014 at home.

He was born on June 6, 1925 to George U. and Inga (Toftey) Nelson Sr. in Duluth. He was known as "Bub" to many of his friends.

At age 18 he left home to join the 10th Mountain Division, a skiing division of the army. He trained at Camp Hale in Colorado, close to what is now known as Vail Ski Resort. He saw action in the Apennines of Italy with the C-85th. When he returned home, he attended Michigan State University graduating with a Bachelor degree in Hotel Administration.

Upon returning home to help run the family business, Lutsen Resort, George saw the potential for a ski area in the hills behind the Resort. The ski area was one of the many pioneering visions that George had to develop and promote the Lutsen area. He developed and ran the Lutsen Ski Area, Lutsen Sea Villas, and was a partner in Lutsen Development Company. He wanted to benefit Cook County with the development of a scenic and challenging golf course and so donated land for that use. Superior National Golf is the course now situated on the donated family land. George always remembered what his grandfather and father told him, " Lutsen has been good to the Nelsons, so the Nelsons will be good to Lutsen".

George was passionate about: Lutsen, skiing, hunting in South Dakota, fishing at Isle Royale, golf, friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Inga Nelson; sister, Norinne Peet; and son, George (Nibs) Nelson, III.

George is survived by wife, Patti; daughters Rebecca (Daryl) Nelson- Harris of Auburn, CA, Cynthia Nelson of Vail, CO, Traci (Thomas "Smokey") Nelson- Boyer of Colorado Springs, CO, and Terri (Dr. Joseph) deNatale of Pittsfield, ME; grandchildren Alden and Nelson Harris, Joe and Luke deNatale.

Visitation will be from 10 AM until the 11 AM service on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais. Burial will follow at Lutsen Cemetery with lunch at Lutsen Lutheran Church.