Gregory Alan "Greg" Nelson
Of Waukesha, Wisconsin, passed away on September 1st, 2026 at the VA hospital's ICU. Gregory lived a life of giving, living, and working. When he was diagnosed with cancer, his strength and resilience were tested as the illness progressed rapidly. Gregory's final moments were surrounded by music and love, with his wife, Cindy, his son, Christopher and his sister, Lisa by his bedside.

Greg was born on October 2, 1966 in Shawano, Wisconsin. Greg graduated from Shawano High School in 1985, the same year he proudly entered the United States Marine Corps. He served as an avionic technician, completing his active duty in 1995. Greg went on to further his education at the University of Phoenix, Milwaukee campus, graduating with a Bachelor's of Science in Information Technology in 2004 and also completing his A+ Certification. Despite working full-time to support his family, Greg made many friends during his time in college. He went out of his way to help his peers, and he spent many late nights sitting around tables, filling the room with laughter. Greg was known for his strong work ethic. Obtaining their college degrees was a proud accomplishment for both Greg and his wife. Greg was a hard and dedicated worker. He started working at the young age of 15 and remained employed until his passing. Upon leaving active duty, Greg worked at several places including Velvac, Red Lobster, Metal-Era, Caterpillar Advanced Technology Services, Advanced Pain Management, Parasol Alliance, and Basin Precision Machining. His most recent employer was Generac Power Systems. Greg loved getting his office set up just right and could frequently be found connecting computer systems. Greg remained friends with many of his coworkers. In fact, during COVID, many of his friends and coworkers would gather in a restaurant parking lot in lawn chairs and sit around laughing and telling stories. Greg hailed from a strong family of service. He was a "Hollywood Marine", having attended boot camp in San Diego in 1985. His first duty station was Camp Lejeune. Later, he was stationed in Kaneohe, Hawaii, where he met the love of his life and formed lasting friendships. Greg worked at Pless Hall as a food service specialist (MOS 3381). He went on to attend NCO school. He then served in Desert Storm/Desert Shield from 1990 to 1991, where he was stationed at King Abdulaziz Football Stadium in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Greg reenlisted on the USS Arizona Memorial and subsequently transferred to Mare Island School, where he was assigned as an Aviation Logistics Tactical Information Systems (ALTIS) specialist (MOS 6494). His final posting was at Cherry Point - Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 14, in the 67E shop. In 1995, he was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. His time in the Marine Corps was filled with too many stories to recount.

Greg met his wife, Cindy, in a country bar in Pearl City, Hawaii. They were introduced by their mutual friend, Eileen. Greg asked Cindy to dance and serenaded her with a song. Cindy had confided in her friend that she believed Greg would propose to her, and sure enough, he did just one week later. Their love and commitment to each other was strong, leading them to marry three times and never once divorcing. They went on to have a vibrant family. Over the years, they also welcomed many foster children into their home. Despite his strong personality and opinionated nature, Greg made many friends throughout his life. He was a man who strived to live life to the fullest, yet also found contentment in the simple pleasures like holding his wife's hand and sharing everyday experiences. Family was Greg's top priority. Still, he also had a deep love for technology, new gadgets, fast cars, tattoos, good whiskey, and sharing an ice-cold Coors Light with loved ones. Music was a daily part of his life, and it was a treat to hear him sing. He was known for his generosity, often giving gadgets, toys, funny t-shirts, snacks, and other gifts to bring joy and laughter to those around him. Greg's favorite superhero was Batman. He liked that Batman did not have super powers, but instead accomplished all his feats with technology, his mind, and training. Shopping was another one of Greg's hobbies. He often went on Black Friday shopping sprees with his niece, Alysia. Greg and his wife would joke that Amazon would grieve his passing. In his final days, Greg's tattoos brought his nurses joy as they all commented on how bright and awesome they were. He loved to talk about his gallery of tattoos, hoping to one day reach his goal of completing both sleeves. His current tattoos included dragons, a phoenix, an eagle globe and anchor, a battlefield cross, a USMC with K-bar, a tattoo to honor his mom and mother-in-law, a sunflower for his wife, the phrase "I got your 6", and plans for many more. He loved cooking and hoped to cook more once he retired. He loved his in-laws and cherished the times he visited them in Hawaii, one of his happy places. As a former Marine, Greg was fiercely loyal to his comrades, always worrying about them and taking care of them as an NCO. His service in the Corps held a special place in his heart, and he found satisfaction in honoring the sacrifices of fellow veterans.

In addition to his college degree and service, some of Greg's proudest accomplishments were buying a home and a brand new pick-up truck, getting his motorcycle license, and gifting his mom a first-class ticket home. His final words were a declaration of love for his wife, Cindy. He loved his dogs: Wolf, Trouble, and Remmie, often joking that he loved them more than most people.

Greg is survived by his wife, Cynthia Nelson; his children, Christopher (Mia Lopez) Nelson, Brianna Mask, and Dennis (Taylor) Radomski; his granddaughter, Phoenix Radomski; his mother, Helen Nelson; and his siblings, Lisa (Kerry) Rogers, Doug (Melissa) Nelson, and David Nelson. He is also survived by his nephews, Brandon (Marissa) Rogers ,Heather Wilcox, Justin Nelson; his nieces, Alysia Rogers, Carrisa (Jamison) McNeill, Margo Allen, and Tess Sandoval; as well as many grand-nieces and nephews: Wesson, Lena, Willow, Byron, Cyrus, Jackson, Alice, Liam, and Canaan. Additionally, Gregory is survived by his father-in-law, Kenneth E. Sprague; his sister-in-law, Tina (Gideon Helms) Sprague; and his brother-in-law, Kenneth E. (Gary Ringenwald) Sprague II. Greg was preceded in death by his father, Robert Nelson; his mother-in-law, Margaret Sprague; his son-in-law, Ed Guldenmond; and his friends Lynn Martan, Mary/Less Wheeler, and Jeri Mask, along with other friends and family members and a few angel babies who wait to greet him in heaven.

A memorial visitation for Greg will take place on October 1, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Prasser-Kleczka Funeral Homes Bay View Chapel. This will be immediately followed by a memorial service at 7:00 PM. There will be a military honors ceremony at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery on October 2, 2026, at 11:00 AM to honor Greg's exemplary service to our country. In lieu of cut flowers, live plants are preferred. Donations can be made in Greg's honor to the Fisher House, Wisconsin Honor Flights, and the American Cancer Society.