James T. Nelson, 78, passed away after a brief illness on June 11, 2024, in Lantana FL. He was born Nov. 2, 1945, in Waltham, MA and raised in Wilton NH, the son of Fred and Kathryn Nelson. Jim graduated from Wilton High School and then served in the US Army as a field medic during the Vietnam war. He attended the New England Institute of Embalming and Mortuary Science in Boston, MA. He joined his father running Nelson’s Ambulance Service, Nelson’s Answering Service, and The Nelson Funeral Homes. He later became sole proprietor of Nelson Funeral Homes. He served as President of the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association and served on the NH Funeral Board. He was an active member of the Wilton community, he earned the Rank of Eagle Scout, served as Justice of the peace, bail commissioner and member of The Main Street Association. He was a member of the American Legion Burke Bent Post 10 and was a longtime member of the Wilton Lions Club where he once served as president and also received the Melvin Jones Fellow award. He was a volunteer firefighter in Wilton and was a Free Mason of the Clinton Lodge. Jim was a member of the Sacred Heart Church serving as an altar boy, and Eucharistic minister. When he retired in 2008, he moved to Old Saybrook, CT splitting his time between there and Lantana FL. Jim loved woodworking and woodturning. He is survived by his wife Rita Jackson. His children, Tammy (Nelson) Stieper, and her husband Kurt, Darrin Nelson and his wife Margie, Daniel Nelson and his wife Pam, Jessica Jackson and Tamera (TJ) Jackson; His grandchildren Kate, Erica, Benjamin, Jared, Alexander, Aurie, Travis, Amanda; niece Sandrine; sisters Michelle and Sharon (Dutton). Family and friends are invited to calling hours at the Michaud Funeral Home, 32 Maple St Wilton, NH, on Friday July 5, 2024, from 4pm-7pm. The Funeral service will be July 6, 2024, at the Michaud Funeral Home at 11 am. A reception will follow at the Red House in Wilton. Burial Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Mt. Calvary Cemetery at 10:00 am, all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wilton Fireman’s Relief Fund Association, PO Box 533 Wilton, NH 03086 or the Wilton Lions Club PO Box 513 Wilton, NH 03086.