Andrew John Nelson, 28
Andrew John Nelson passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 24, 2012, near Post Falls. Andrew was born Sept. 30, 1983, in Oakland, Calif., to Suzanne M. Gurnsey Nelson and Bert Nelson.
Andrew moved to Nampa in 1986 and grew up there until he entered college in Moscow. He was a baptized and confirmed member of Zion Lutheran Church, Nampa. Andrew attended Zion Lutheran Preschool, Scism & Sunny Ridge Elementary, South Middle School and Sky View High School. Through school, Andrew participated in the Caldwell Little Britches Rodeo, played baseball and football and excelled and lettered on the Sky View High School Ski Team. Andrew became a ski instructor at Bogus Basin at age 14 and was one of the youngest accredited ski instructors in the nation, he also participated in Bogus Basin Ski Patrol.
Andrew attended the University of Idaho from 2002-2008 and graduated with a B.A. in political science and B.S. in criminal justice. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, serving in house government positions and on the U of I Judicial Board. He began working in law enforcement as a tracker for Latah County in 2006, then Latah County Youth Services, Youth Probation and Adult Misdemeanor Probation. Andrew went on to be a Probation and Parole agent for the state of Idaho with many POST Academy accreditations. He was currently serving on the U.S. Treasury Department’s Northern Idaho Sex Abuse Taskforce. Andrew always wanted to be in law enforcement like his grandpa and great-grandpa.
Andrew met his future wife Kaitlyn while working for Latah County. He went on to marry the love of his life and soul mate on July 14, 2012, in Genesee. Andrew was known for his strong work ethic, wonderful sense of humor, kindness, honesty and integrity. He shared a great love of skiing and motorcycle riding with his wife Kaitlyn and enjoyed politics and current events, restoring boats, sport shooting and spending time with family.
Andrew is survived by his wife, Kaitlyn Marie Nelson of Spokane; parents, Ron and Suzanne Penny of Nampa, and Bert and Maria Nelson of South San Francisco, Calif.; and in-laws, Joe and Gayle Anderson of Genesee. He also leaves his sister, Julie (Penny) Jensen and brother-in-law Todd of Oreana; little brother Ryan Penny of Nampa; brothers, Scott (Samantha) Penny and Mark Penny; sister-in-law Jennifer (Soren) Lowe of Genessee; and grandmothers, Ruth Gurnsey and Eleanor Penny of Nampa; as well as many other aunts, uncles and family.
He was preceded in death by grandparents, Bert and Doracs Nelson; grandpas, John Gurnsey and Roger Penny; and his aunt, Dianne Gurnsey.
Andrew loved and was loved by all his many family and friends. We will miss him greatly. May the Lord keep Andrew safe forever.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at the Genesee Valley Lutheran Church. A private family burial will follow at a later date at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise.