AUGUST 1, 1941 - DECEMBER 22, 2023. John Brady Nelson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Clifford John and Mary Elizabeth Nelson. John graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School in 1959 and later joined the Marines. For nearly 30 years, with Tri-State Explosives, John thoroughly enjoyed demolishing and imploding structures in the tri-state area - Washington DC Metro Redline, the Gannett buildings in Arlington, a well-researched documentary on the battles at Antietam, coal mines in Pennsylvania - to name a few assignments. He was a member of the International Society of Explosives Engineers. From 1999 to 2010, John's company, City Services of Washington, rendered home repair/remodeling services. He capped his nearly 60-year career as the Assistant Safety Manager at The Strittmatter Companies. John completed two Marine Corps marathons as well as the Virginia Beach Shamrock marathon. He was known as "POPPY" to his grandchildren - Patrick, Jayda, Halie Grace, Kathryn, Conor, Bradley, and George and Sulli Clexton. John's life came to a peaceful end on December 22, 2023, at his home in Bethany Beach, Delaware. He is survived by his wife Diane Hysan Nelson and his siblings James Nelson, Mary Beth Rehak, and Kathy Folger. He was predeceased by his daughter, Angela Clexton.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.