Nils Targon Nelson

Nils Targon Nelson, 87, formerly of Washington Township, NJ, and Arden, NC, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Atlanta, GA, on October 2, 2025, from complications of Parkinson's Disease.

Nils was born on February 27, 1938, in Amarillo, TX, to Norman, a traveling salesman, and his wife, Alicia, a homemaker. He received his unusual name as a tribute to his grandfather, an immigrant from Sweden. The family moved often, a circumstance that forced him to learn how to make friends with all kinds of people and not be intimidated by bullies. It also broadened his horizons, giving him the opportunity to grow up in some of North America's most exciting cities, including New Orleans, San Francisco, and Montreal.

Nils graduated from Norwich University in Vermont and attended McGill University in Canada, where he majored in Aeronautics and Aviation Administration. This path led to a job in the marketing department at Dutch airline KLM, which in turn led to marketing positions at BBDO in New York and with auto makers Renault and Yugo. He went on to have a long career as an incentive travel specialist in northern New Jersey for E.F. MacDonald, IN Marketing, and his own company, MotorSport Adventures.

It was in Montreal that Nils met Joan Smith, a flight attendant for Air Canada, who would become the love of his life for more than 60 years. They were married in Halifax, NS, on October 3, 1964, and moved to New York City. When their first child was born, the couple settled in the New Jersey suburbs where they could have a yard, access to good schools, and block parties with neighbors who would become great friends.

In 2005, Nils and Joan retired to the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, NC—a home that would become his favorite of all the many places he lived. There they adoped Maya and Nigel, sibling kittens who became their second set of kids. Their cul-de-sac neighbors looked after them like family, and bear cubs were frequent visitors to their wooded back yard where Joan kept the birds and the squirrels well fed. In North Carolina, Nils and Joan became long-serving volunteers and passionate advocates for Manna FoodBank, where they found true purpose in helping alleviate food insecurity in their community.

Nils was a creative soul who enjoyed writing, photography, carving, and woodworking in his garage workshop. He felt a spiritual connection to Native Americans, and collected the work of Native American artists. He took pleasure in solving puzzles, mysteries, and trivia, and loved country music long before country music was cool. He was obsessed with fast cars, aviation, and anything associated with the Vikings—the mascots of his Swedish ancestors.

He suffered a lot of losses in his life—his parents, his best friends Jack and Hazen, a business, and more recently his eyesight, his hearing, and eventually his mobility. He conquered cancer and endured the endless indignities of Parkinson's, and handled it all with so much grace and acceptance. Kindness. Fortitude. And above all gratitude—for his loving family and friends, the wonderful staff at St. Anne's Terrace, his tireless physical therapists, and his absolutely amazing caregivers.

Nils is survived by his wife, Joan Nelson; son Mike Nelson and his husband, Bruce Raper, of Atlanta, GA; son Nils Nelson of Meredith, NH; granddaughter Chloe Nelson of Davis, CA; brother Norm Nelson and his wife, Barbara, of The Villages, FL; brother Steve Nelson and his wife, Annette, of Annapolis, MD; sister-in-law Margaret Ferguson and her husband, David, of Mississauga, ON; sister-in-law Sandy Smith of St. Louis, MO; nine nieces and nephews; and his two loyal felines. A Celebration of Life is being planned for his birthday in February, 2026. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Manna FoodBank of Western North Carolina, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, or the American Indian College Fund.

For more information, contact mike.nelson@times3.net.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Nils Targon Nelson, please visit our flower store.