Paul LaMarr Nelson, 81, of Cambridge lost his bravely fought battle with cancer at the VA in St. Cloud on June 24, 2026. Funeral service will be held Friday, July 17 at Spring Lake Lutheran Church, 8440 Erickson Road, North Branch, MN at 2pm with visitation 1 hour prior to service at the church.
Paul was born December 19, 1944 in Cambridge to Carl and Evelyn (Johnson) Nelson at the family farm. He graduated from Cambridge High School. After serving in the Navy on a ship in the Mediterranean, in which he took great pride, he made his home in Cambridge on the same road he grew up on, across from the family homestead and lived there all of his life.
After coming home from the Navy, Paul worked as a baker for Red Owl, but, he worked in manufacturing most of his life starting with the Pako Corporation, then Ceram-Traz and then later at Isanti Packaging and Midwest Metal Framing. He also worked a short time for his brother Leroy at North Star Sports in Isanti which sold Indian Motorcycles. He enjoyed a long retirement filled with some flower gardening, relaxing, hanging out with his dog Murphy and giving his neighbors crap, in which he took as good as he gave. He was a faithful member at Spring Lake Lutheran Church where he grew up and was confirmed.
Paul is survived by his sister, JoAnn Leagjeld, St. Peter, MN; brother, James Nelson (Cathy), Cambridge, MN; 12 nieces and nephews, which includes niece Melissa Stauffer and her husband Joe, their children Joey and Ella – one of his above mentioned neighbors – and who was there for him during his illness taking him to appointments, etc.; and many other family and friends. Paul will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Evelyn; brothers, Leroy, John and infant brother Ralph; sisters, Maureen Anderson and Sharon Lundin; brothers-in-law, Louis Leagjeld and Walter Lundin; one nephew and three nieces.
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