Dean Nelson

To view Dean's Tribute Video, Click Here. Brigadier General Oral Dean Nelson, entered into the presence of His Lord Sunday, September 16, 2012 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Dean was born May 18, 1928 in Creston, Iowa where he grew up on the family farm north of town. After graduating from high school with honors he attended the University of Arizona earning a B.A. degree in Classics. In June 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Violette Fulton. They lived in Chicago and Park Ridge, Il. where their son Jeffrey Dean and daughter Jocelyn Patrice were born. He earned doctorates including a Th.D. and Ph.D. from Northwestern University while serving twelve years as a parish minister, building a thriving church from a handful of people who started the church in a school. During this time Dean joined the U.S. Army reserves at the urging of a close friend, also a minister, who said it would be a healthy diversion. Was it ever! Dean immersed himself in the military educational process which allowed him to advance from 1st Lt. to Brigadier General. Dean's varied career contributed greatly to society and earned him the love and respect of many people in all walks of life across our nation. Dean and Violette retired to Tucson, AZ in 1994 where they joined St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church. The next 17 years Dean invested his energies, heart and soul, into the development of one of the finest theological church libraries in the country. he is survived by his wife of 59 years, Violette; son Jeffrey Dean (Muriel) ; daughter Jocelyn Patrice (Hubert) Yousif; granddaughters Natasha and Nadya Yousif; brothers Dale (Ingrid), Charles (Helga) and Everett (Barbara); sister Phyllis (Kirpal) Singh. A memorial service will be held at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, at River and Campbell, on Saturday October 27, 2012 at 2:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Renouf-Nelson Library at St. Philip's, Parkinson's Foundation or to Casa de la Luz Hospice. The following article was published March 2011. cave ab homine unius libri BEWARE OF ANYONE WHO HAS JUST ONE BOOK There is no chance of this happening at the Renouf/Nelson Library due to the efforts and devotion of a very special man. On February 3, 2011 Dr. O. Dean Nelson stepped down as Chairman of the RenoufiNelson Library after more than 15 years of dedicated service. Dean now holds the honorable position of Chair Emeritus of the Renouf/Nelson Library. Dean Nelson, Ph.D. and the Rev. Canon Robert Renouf, Ph.D. combined their intelligence, motivation, and visions to create what has become a center of learning probably unsurpassed by any other church library in the state and possibly the western half of the country. The two men shared their experience in ecumenicity, administration, theology, ecclesiology, and Bible to create what has been described by parishioner Warren Edminster, AIA,as the "jewel" of the st. Philip's campus. Upon the death of Bob Renoufin 2004, Dean took over the Chairmanship of the library. O. Dean Nelson was born on an Iowa farm, one of 5 children. Being the only student in his grade for seven out of eight years, he was head of his class in a one-room school house. Thus began his life and love of education. Dean did his undergraduate work at the University of Arizona in Classics and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He received his theological degrees from Northern Seminary in Chicago. Northwestern University awarded him his Ph.D. degree. He did his post-doctoral studies at the Institute of Educational Management, Harvard University. (For more photos, see Loaves on the Web) Dean worked as a minister, seminary president, and professor of practical theology and worship at Central Seminary in the Midwest, whose faculty, board, and students were an ecumenical mix. Dean's knowledge of languages helped in his research work. He studied Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, German, and Ugaritic, a wedgeshaped cuneiform language found in Middle East inscriptions. Dr.Nelson has been a denominational executive and university chaplain and has served on the boards of two seminaries and two liberal arts colleges. As a chaplain in the Army reserve components, military education was important for his portfolio. He attended the Army Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Dean was U.S. Army Assistant Chief of Chaplains for Mobilization Management in the Pentagon and was awarded the Legion of Merit medal. He preached at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.Dean retired from the Army with the rank of brigadier general. In retirement Dean has been as active as ever. He worked on the Advisory Board for the Episcopal Refugee Service. He became a spokesman for the hearing impaired, working tirelessly as a member and President of the Board of the Adult Loss of Hearing Association. Dean was instrumental in introducing Tucson to the inductive looping system, an inexpensive system installed in public facilities to improve audibility of sounds for the hearing impaired. Under Dean's watchful eye, the system was installed at st. Philip's, one of the first churches in the community to have such technology. In February of 2009, Dean received the SERTOMA ("SERviceTO MAnkind") award. He was chosen for this award in recognition of his work with the hard of hearing. It is a fitting description of a man who has devoted himself to serving mankind. This accomplished, gentle man has given generously of himself to many ministries over the years. Dean is an Oblate of the Order of st. Benedict. He has worked many years at the Benedictine Monastery in Tucson and has been a mentor to others on the Benedictine path. Dr. Nelson is married to Violette Fulton Nelson, R.N., M.S. They have a son, a daughter, and two granddaughters. The creation and development of the Renouf/Nelson Library is a source of pride for the Parish, the community, and the Diocese. We couldn't have done it without you Chief! AN ABBREVIATED VITA FOR DR. O. DEAN NELSON Born and reared on an Iowa farm, Dean Nelson attended a country one room elementary school and was the only one in his grade for seven years. He was elected to the high school National Honor Society. he earned his B.A. degree in classics at the University of Arizona and graduated Phi Beta Kappa Phi. Northwestern University granted him the PH.D. degree, with a minor at Garrett Seminary (United Methodist). Post doctoral studies were taken at the Institute for Educational Management, Harvard University. In addition to his civilian education he graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and studied at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and othe rmilitary schools. Professionally he served in parish and college ministries, and the military chaplaincy as Assistant Chief of Chaplains for Mobilization Management in the Pentagon and was awarded the Legion of Merit medal..He has preached in the National Cathedral. He was president of the Central Seminary, and ecumenical membder of the Kansas City consortium, where he was also professor of practical theology and worship. His U.S. Army retirement was with the rank of Brigadier General. Dr. Nelson married Violette I. Fulton. They have a son, Jeffrey Dean Nelson and a daughter, Jocelyn Patrice Yousif and two granddaughters, Natasha and Nadya. Violette and Dean joined St. Philip's Episcopal Church, where Dean chaired the Library Committee and made sandwiches for the homeless. hH also helped with refugee resettlement. Dean was president of The Adult Loss of Hearing Assn. (ALOHA). He chaired the initiative to loop southern Arizona. January 7, 2012