Obituary of Keith Phillip Nelson

It is with great sadness that we announce Keith Phillip Nelson’s departure from this world, two weeks after his 63rd birthday, on Feb 21, 2024, in Fort St John, BC.

Before moving to northern BC in 2008, where he worked in the oil and gas field, Keith spent over forty years of his life on Vancouver Island. He was a marine steward, first-aid attendant, seaman, college student, labourer, and truck driver. Keith enjoyed working on boats and in a shipyard, paddling in the ocean in canoes and kayaks, scuba diving, rock climbing, and camping. Some of his favourite memories are from his five years supervising a remote lodge in Barkley Sound. 

Keith was a very skilled craftsman and woodworker who made beautiful furniture, fine boxes, and elegant watercraft like his beloved kayak. He put together the workshop of his dreams when he moved to Taylor, BC in 2022, and we all wish he had had more time to enjoy his shop before succumbing to the cancer he started treatment for over four years ago. 

Keith leaves behind immediate family on Vancouver Island: his mother, Jeanne Larsen; stepfather, Ivar Larsen; sisters Kari Nelson (Don Lawseth), and Kimberly Nelson; niece Sierra Grigg; and nephew Logan Grigg. Extended family in the US, Norway, Sweden, and other parts of BC also mourn his passing, as do his friends. 

Jeanne, Kari, and Kimberly are grateful for the supportive care of the doctors, nurses, and care aids who provided Keith with comfort during his three weeks in Fort St John hospital. Their commitment to his wellbeing was obvious, and very much appreciated. 

Keith was cremated on Feb 23, 2024, and his ashes were brought back to the island. They will be scattered in his beloved ocean, as seems fitting, in a small family gathering.

 

In lieu of flowers, we suggest a donation to the

BC Cancer Foundation https://bccancerfoundation.com, or

Nature Conservancy of Canada https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/.