Jay Nelson

Jay C. Nelson, age 53, passed away on November 10, 2018.  He was born on July 8, 1965, in  Detroit Lakes, Minnesota to Joseph Clayton and Wanda (Hoebelheinrich) Nelson.  He graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1983.  Jay attended Alexandria Technical College following high school, and completed a law enforcement degree in 1985.

Jay was united in marriage to Sheila (Toots) Schwedrsky on August 22, 1987.  They were blessed with two children, Jacob and Jon.

Jay started his law enforcement career in the mid-80’s, working part-time as a deputy sheriff for Becker County and also Pelican Rapids Police Department.  He then worked in North Dakota   for Richland County, Jamestown Police Department, and Stutsman County Sheriff’s Department.  He returned to Minnesota in 1992 and started as the Chief of Police in Lake Park.  He then worked for Becker County as a deputy from 1999-2006 after which he returned to Lake Park as Chief of Police, where he retired in 2015.  After his retirement, he worked for Rolling R Bison Ranch in the Cormorant area.

Jay was an avid sportsman who enjoyed many hunting and fishing trips with friends and family. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, woodworking, and nature photography in his spare time. Jay loved visiting the Duluth area with his wife Toots, making several trips a year.

Jay is survived by his father Joseph Clayton, his wife Toots, two children Jake and Jon (Chloe,) one grandson Noah, six siblings Lori Nelson, Jeff (Stacy), Rob (Scarlet), Lisa Monson, Michelle (Joe) Peterson, Chad (Amy),  three “brother-no-good in-laws from Wisconsin” Lonnie (Angie), TJ (Beth), Gary (Darcy), and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother Wanda, grandparents Maynard and Tilla Nelson, Bruno and Venetta Hoebelheinrich, father-in-laws Rusty Schwedrsky and Bud Paulson, cousins Jesse Mattson and John Passanante, and nephew Jon Wafle.