I just heard about Nels, and my first thought was of him and his viola. I was always inspired by his Musical ability. He had such a flare for the dramatic with life and it showed in his music (and in other ways). I remember laughing, joking, and making Jack Ashton so mad in orchestra - same with Jr. High orchestra. Choir wasn't an exception either, nor any other class I took with him. I remember (I think it was Nels) getting the Lake Powell rental boat completely out of the water when he gunned it over the huge tour boat waves! Followed by cheering and a "let's do that again", while I was sure I was going to throw-up. I remember such a caring, thoughtful person, that would listen and make you smile. There are so many more memories! Even though I haven't see Nels in a long time - he lives in my memories, and I will always remember him! Love - Paige (Marriott) Storheim
Thank you for creating this, it brought tears to my eyes. I loved my uncle. I can remember him taking me fishing up millcreek canyon. He was so strong. I rode on his handlebars from his house to the first fishing hole. I have so many fond memories of waterskiing, especially behind that old clunker boat of his. We used to all pile in the front while the person behind was dragged for miles until the boat topped out at 25 mph and the skier emerged from the drink. I recall that when the boat finally started to die (two months after he bought it), we talked about how cool it would be to send it down the spillway to its death.
Nels was an amazingly hard worker. He had a successful landscaping business and loved to build elaborate ponds (which he always called water features). His favorite part was stocking the ponds with fish. Farmed fish just weren't good enough for him though so he built a large portable oxygenated cooler. We went up Parley's canyon and netted fish, put them in the cooler, and transported them to his ponds...it was so illegal, but so Nels. "There's something wrong with this? These fish never had it so good, they are going to be fed every day." On that same trip, I remember Nels caught a 20" cutthroat with his bare hands, he was so excited.
I could write memories for hours. Each recollection is more fun and more absurd than the rest. Nels lived an exciting and surreal life. I'm so grateful for the times I spent with him. I love you Nels.
I am smiling as I type this, because when I think of Nels, I think of laughing until you cry. Most of my memories are from the jr. high years with the neighborhood gang. We played night games, had backyard sleepovers, and always seemed to find mischief.
I particularly remember one night we all met on the VanDam's front lawn with a huge pile of toilet paper we'd all taken from our homes. We were discussing what target could possibly be worthy of such bounty when we saw police lights slowly making their way up Melony Drive. We all kicked into high gear, shoving the tp into convenient open trenches in the lawn (for sprinklers) and hid ourselves before the cop stopped in front of the house. Nels couldn't contain his laugh/snort, but we somehow weren't discovered.
Another thing I remember were all the hours spent at his home for the Paulsen Sunday Evening Devotionals, (I think his mom may have had ideas for Nels and me those early years. : ) Also, basement practices for the 7th ward orchestra, church activities, high school, Lake Powell.
Kindness, laughter, fun, talent. What a great human being.
Nels loved the out of doors and appreciated a good hike. One day he came over to my house (the one I shared with Paige at the time) and told me that when he was 16 years old, he had gone on a hike with the scouts in our stake to the wind rivers. He recounted the absolute beauty and grandeur of the experience and that he had promised himself at the time that he would return. Then he paused and looked at me and said, "Melanie, the time has come." He was planning a return trip and invited me to go with him and another friend of his. We did go, his friend got really sick the first night in and Nels had to hike him back out. We spent the next day hiking to a particular spot that he remembered using a compass (which had me scaling cliffs and other strenuous activities with a huge pack on my back). Boy, was it worth it. We camped by waterfalls, a river full of fish - we both felt like we were in the Garden of Eden. Being a novice to this kind of camping, I was so grateful Nels had the vision and the know how to make it so incredible. What a wonderful brother/sister experience.
I love you my dear brother, Melanie Paulsen Cholodowski
When I think of Nels, I remember that he was friends with EVERYONE. He was friends with people from every social group in high school. It didn't matter if you were churchy or wild or nerdy...he was kind you. He was so accepting and tolerant. He truly did not judge others even if they had very different beliefs from his own.
Nels was so sweet and genuine. I still think of him often when I'm having a late night junk food fest. He nicknamed me "The Ultimate Snacker" and I have to admit he is right. :)
I will always remember Nels the way I knew him in high school. A favorite memory of Nels is when he and Josh made dinner for Marcia and I up Millcreek Canyon. When Josh's old brown clunker died and we were stranded (there were no cell phones back then even if we would have had service). Nels and Josh had a grand idea. They decided to just push the car onto the road and coast down the canyon. We were flying down the mountain and when we got to the light at Wasatch Boulevard, it turned green just in time and we flew through. We were able to coast all the way down 39th south, onto 27th east and almost to Melony Drive. Of course Nels was laughing his one of a kind barky/snorty laugh the entire time.
I love Nels and I pray for all those who are grieving for him.
I love these pictures of Nels because they are exaclty as I remember him--happy, funny and carefree. I knew Nels through my sister, Margaret. I am five years younger than both Nels and Margaret, yet, I still thought of Nels as a friend! This was because he always treated me as a friend would treat someone. To him, I wasn't 'Margaret's little sister', or even, 'little CK', I was just CK.
I went on two trips with Nels. A group of us climbed Lone Peak when I was about 13. Up until that time, it was the most difficult climb of my life (and to be honest, still is!). I remember near the end of the first day, getting really exhausted. Instead of just encouraging me, Nels decided that the best way of motivating me would be to get me to laugh. And he did! I laughed so much that I forgot I was tired. Magically, somehow, I made it to the base camp in one piece.
The other trip I went on with Nels was to a bluegrass festival in Telluride, Colorado. At this point, I was about 14 and even though Nels must have been in college, *I* thought I was quite mature. And, the magic of Nels was that he treated me as if I was as well! We all piled in my parents' suburban to go and Nels let me sit in the 'middle' seat instead of relegating me to the back. I remember feeling a little nervous with all of the 'big' people around me, but once again, Nels made me feel like I belonged. He also made me laugh.
Nels, I will always remember how happy you made me and how much you made me laugh. I believe you are free and happy now.
Do any of you remember the time ( one of many) when we went boating our senior year and Mar's boat wouldn't start. It was a beautiful day and Nels suggested that we say a prayer that our Heavenly Father would allow us to enjoy the beauty of the day and that the boat would start. Bry and I mocked the suggestion and stated that we thought God had more important things to do than to start the boat so that we could enjoy the day skiing and boating. Well......the boat started. Nels had such great faith in our creator and took nothing for granted. I have soooo many wonderful memories of Nels. I love Nels and the great enthusiasm he had for life. He was a dear friend and saw the best in all of us. We love you Nels! Di
Like so many others have said here, I remember Nels most for his great laugh, his love of life and his kindness and friendship. We grew up on the same street and I have so many memories walking home from school with him and then standing at the foot of my driveway talking and laughing until Carol came out to find him and call him home to practice his viola. He thought of everyone as a friend and found the humor and fun in everything. I feel really blessed to have shared my childhood/young adulthood with him. Kristy Maughan Stone
I remember Nels driving a big red car, affectionately dubbed “the love-mobile” and “the love boat.” While driving in that car one night (actually, he was kindly taking a friend of mine home before her curfew), the car ran out of gas. Being an older car, the gas gage was broken. “Don’t worry,” Nels exclaimed, “I always have a gallon of gas in the trunk!” As we sat in the car, Nels proceeded to the trunk. We suddenly heard Nels laughing his throaty, uninhibited laugh. Even though Nels came prepared with extra gas to mitigate the broken gas gage situation, he did not bring the keys to the car to open the trunk; the car didn’t happen to need keys to start. Nels’s laugh was infectious—I laughed so hard that night I began to cry. Nels often made me laugh, but he also took me seriously. He was one of those rare people who would ask me how I was doing and really listened to know.
Laughing, fun, kind, much love… Much love back to you and yours, Nels. Sincerely, Rachel Woolley MacKay
My thoughts of Nels turn to his ability to make friends with anyone. His contagious laugh brought people together. He was so much fun to be with and was always stirring up mischief. On our trip to Lake Powell it was the girls turn to go out first thing in the morning. Well, we were awoken to the sound of the engine and we went running out of our tents only to see Nels driving the boat away with the boys smiling and waving bye. He was full of it! He was also so good at everything he did. Very talented! My heart goes out to his family and friends. Love you Nels! Amberly Wickens Harris
First, I apologize for my English, it's been 14 years since I left America. Yesterday a huge hit my heart sad to hear of the death of my brother Nels. America's impossible to remember without remembering Nels. When I arrived I'd been lost in the street next to the Bradleys and was found by him. I had just arrived in the country. Then began our history of friendship. It took months of friendship and many, many, many laughs. being with him was to learn to smile, be love. I have millions of memories with him that are coming in my mind, (lunch at his house with his family, trips unforgettable. comforting words ...) but unfortunately I can not translate it to english. I really wanted to rediscover him next year. A little piece of Brazil is very sad today .... I feel like a very important part of my life, had died. It is painful to know that the world is much poorer in love today. I want to tell all your family and friends, I am deeply moved. My condolences. Nels the style of being, to flourish in our hearts forever ..... eternal longing. Rodolfo Holand.a I learned to love america. through the eyes of NELS ....
I just heard about Nels, and my first thought was of him and his viola. I was always inspired by his Musical ability. He had such a flare for the dramatic with life and it showed in his music (and in other ways). I remember laughing, joking, and making Jack Ashton so mad in orchestra - same with Jr. High orchestra. Choir wasn't an exception either, nor any other class I took with him.
ReplyDeleteI remember (I think it was Nels) getting the Lake Powell rental boat completely out of the water when he gunned it over the huge tour boat waves! Followed by cheering and a "let's do that again", while I was sure I was going to throw-up.
I remember such a caring, thoughtful person, that would listen and make you smile. There are so many more memories!
Even though I haven't see Nels in a long time - he lives in my memories, and I will always remember him! Love - Paige (Marriott) Storheim
Thank you for creating this, it brought tears to my eyes. I loved my uncle. I can remember him taking me fishing up millcreek canyon. He was so strong. I rode on his handlebars from his house to the first fishing hole. I have so many fond memories of waterskiing, especially behind that old clunker boat of his. We used to all pile in the front while the person behind was dragged for miles until the boat topped out at 25 mph and the skier emerged from the drink. I recall that when the boat finally started to die (two months after he bought it), we talked about how cool it would be to send it down the spillway to its death.
ReplyDeleteNels was an amazingly hard worker. He had a successful landscaping business and loved to build elaborate ponds (which he always called water features). His favorite part was stocking the ponds with fish. Farmed fish just weren't good enough for him though so he built a large portable oxygenated cooler. We went up Parley's canyon and netted fish, put them in the cooler, and transported them to his ponds...it was so illegal, but so Nels. "There's something wrong with this? These fish never had it so good, they are going to be fed every day." On that same trip, I remember Nels caught a 20" cutthroat with his bare hands, he was so excited.
I could write memories for hours. Each recollection is more fun and more absurd than the rest. Nels lived an exciting and surreal life. I'm so grateful for the times I spent with him. I love you Nels.
I am smiling as I type this, because when I think of Nels, I think of laughing until you cry. Most of my memories are from the jr. high years with the neighborhood gang. We played night games, had backyard sleepovers, and always seemed to find mischief.
ReplyDeleteI particularly remember one night we all met on the VanDam's front lawn with a huge pile of toilet paper we'd all taken from our homes. We were discussing what target could possibly be worthy of such bounty when we saw police lights slowly making their way up Melony Drive. We all kicked into high gear, shoving the tp into convenient open trenches in the lawn (for sprinklers) and hid ourselves before the cop stopped in front of the house. Nels couldn't contain his laugh/snort, but we somehow weren't discovered.
Another thing I remember were all the hours spent at his home for the Paulsen Sunday Evening Devotionals, (I think his mom may have had ideas for Nels and me those early years. : ) Also, basement practices for the 7th ward orchestra, church activities, high school, Lake Powell.
Kindness, laughter, fun, talent. What a great human being.
Much love,
Cheryln (Smith) Pittman
Nels loved the out of doors and appreciated a good hike. One day he came over to my house (the one I shared with Paige at the time) and told me that when he was 16 years old, he had gone on a hike with the scouts in our stake to the wind rivers. He recounted the absolute beauty and grandeur of the experience and that he had promised himself at the time that he would return. Then he paused and looked at me and said, "Melanie, the time has come." He was planning a return trip and invited me to go with him and another friend of his. We did go, his friend got really sick the first night in and Nels had to hike him back out. We spent the next day hiking to a particular spot that he remembered using a compass (which had me scaling cliffs and other strenuous activities with a huge pack on my back). Boy, was it worth it. We camped by waterfalls, a river full of fish - we both felt like we were in the Garden of Eden. Being a novice to this kind of camping, I was so grateful Nels had the vision and the know how to make it so incredible. What a wonderful brother/sister experience.
ReplyDeleteI love you my dear brother,
Melanie Paulsen Cholodowski
When I think of Nels, I remember that he was friends with EVERYONE. He was friends with people from every social group in high school. It didn't matter if you were churchy or wild or nerdy...he was kind you. He was so accepting and tolerant. He truly did not judge others even if they had very different beliefs from his own.
ReplyDeleteNels was so sweet and genuine. I still think of him often when I'm having a late night junk food fest. He nicknamed me "The Ultimate Snacker" and I have to admit he is right. :)
I will always remember Nels the way I knew him in high school. A favorite memory of Nels is when he and Josh made dinner for Marcia and I up Millcreek Canyon. When Josh's old brown clunker died and we were stranded (there were no cell phones back then even if we would have had service). Nels and Josh had a grand idea. They decided to just push the car onto the road and coast down the canyon. We were flying down the mountain and when we got to the light at Wasatch Boulevard, it turned green just in time and we flew through. We were able to coast all the way down 39th south, onto 27th east and almost to Melony Drive. Of course Nels was laughing his one of a kind barky/snorty laugh the entire time.
I love Nels and I pray for all those who are grieving for him.
xoxo
annie (a.k.a. "The Ultimate Snacker)
I love these pictures of Nels because they are exaclty as I remember him--happy, funny and carefree. I knew Nels through my sister, Margaret. I am five years younger than both Nels and Margaret, yet, I still thought of Nels as a friend! This was because he always treated me as a friend would treat someone. To him, I wasn't 'Margaret's little sister', or even, 'little CK', I was just CK.
ReplyDeleteI went on two trips with Nels. A group of us climbed Lone Peak when I was about 13. Up until that time, it was the most difficult climb of my life (and to be honest, still is!). I remember near the end of the first day, getting really exhausted. Instead of just encouraging me, Nels decided that the best way of motivating me would be to get me to laugh. And he did! I laughed so much that I forgot I was tired. Magically, somehow, I made it to the base camp in one piece.
The other trip I went on with Nels was to a bluegrass festival in Telluride, Colorado. At this point, I was about 14 and even though Nels must have been in college, *I* thought I was quite mature. And, the magic of Nels was that he treated me as if I was as well! We all piled in my parents' suburban to go and Nels let me sit in the 'middle' seat instead of relegating me to the back. I remember feeling a little nervous with all of the 'big' people around me, but once again, Nels made me feel like I belonged. He also made me laugh.
Nels, I will always remember how happy you made me and how much you made me laugh. I believe you are free and happy now.
XOXO.
CK
Do any of you remember the time ( one of many) when we went boating our senior year and Mar's boat wouldn't start. It was a beautiful day and Nels suggested that we say a prayer that our Heavenly Father would allow us to enjoy the beauty of the day and that the boat would start. Bry and I mocked the suggestion and stated that we thought God had more important things to do than to start the boat so that we could enjoy the day skiing and boating. Well......the boat started. Nels had such great faith in our creator and took nothing for granted. I have soooo many wonderful memories of Nels. I love Nels and the great enthusiasm he had for life. He was a dear friend and saw the best in all of us. We love you Nels!
ReplyDeleteDi
Like so many others have said here, I remember Nels most for his great laugh, his love of life and his kindness and friendship. We grew up on the same street and I have so many memories walking home from school with him and then standing at the foot of my driveway talking and laughing until Carol came out to find him and call him home to practice his viola. He thought of everyone as a friend and found the humor and fun in everything. I feel really blessed to have shared my childhood/young adulthood with him.
ReplyDeleteKristy Maughan Stone
I remember Nels driving a big red car, affectionately dubbed “the love-mobile” and “the love boat.” While driving in that car one night (actually, he was kindly taking a friend of mine home before her curfew), the car ran out of gas. Being an older car, the gas gage was broken. “Don’t worry,” Nels exclaimed, “I always have a gallon of gas in the trunk!” As we sat in the car, Nels proceeded to the trunk. We suddenly heard Nels laughing his throaty, uninhibited laugh. Even though Nels came prepared with extra gas to mitigate the broken gas gage situation, he did not bring the keys to the car to open the trunk; the car didn’t happen to need keys to start. Nels’s laugh was infectious—I laughed so hard that night I began to cry. Nels often made me laugh, but he also took me seriously. He was one of those rare people who would ask me how I was doing and really listened to know.
ReplyDeleteLaughing, fun, kind, much love…
Much love back to you and yours, Nels.
Sincerely,
Rachel Woolley MacKay
My thoughts of Nels turn to his ability to make friends with anyone. His contagious laugh brought people together. He was so much fun to be with and was always stirring up mischief. On our trip to Lake Powell it was the girls turn to go out first thing in the morning. Well, we were awoken to the sound of the engine and we went running out of our tents only to see Nels driving the boat away with the boys smiling and waving bye. He was full of it! He was also so good at everything he did. Very talented! My heart goes out to his family and friends. Love you Nels! Amberly Wickens Harris
ReplyDeleteFirst, I apologize for my English, it's been 14 years since I left America. Yesterday a huge hit my heart sad to hear of the death of my brother Nels. America's impossible to remember without remembering Nels. When I arrived I'd been lost in the street next to the Bradleys and was found by him. I had just arrived in the country. Then began our history of friendship. It took months of friendship and many, many, many laughs. being with him was to learn to smile, be love. I have millions of memories with him that are coming in my mind, (lunch at his house with his family, trips unforgettable. comforting words ...) but unfortunately I can not translate it to english. I really wanted to rediscover him next year.
ReplyDeleteA little piece of Brazil is very sad today .... I feel like a very important part of my life, had died. It is painful to know that the world is much poorer in love today. I want to tell all your family and friends, I am deeply moved. My condolences. Nels the style of being, to flourish in our hearts forever ..... eternal longing. Rodolfo Holand.a
I learned to love america. through the eyes of NELS ....