Obituary of Owen A Nelson

Owen A Nelson was born on May 9, 1951 in Springerville, AZ to Kenneth and Jackie Nelson. He grew up working on the ranch where he developed his love of being outdoors. At 14, he developed Guillain-Barre syndrome which left him paralyzed from the waist down and in a hospital 200 miles from home. He eventually recovered and went on to compete in basketball, track, and wrestling at Round Valley High School in Eagar, AZ.

After graduating as valedictorian of his high school class, Owen completed bachelors and masters degrees in chemical engineering at the University of Arizona. He entered the Air Force in 1973 and was honorably discharged as a Major in 1994. Owen completed medical school at the University of California San Diego and then did his residency in orthopedic surgery in Hershey, PA where he also served as the team doctor for the minor league hockey Hershey Bears team. He worked tirelessly as a hip and knee specialist for more than 45 years in Arlington, TX, Uniontown, PA, and then Belfast, ME.

Owen craved adventure and traveled the world to find it. Whether it was riding his motorcycle from Maine to Alaska, hiking a volcano in Iceland, or jigging for squid with his grandkids at 3am, he always welcomed joy into his life. He loved snowboarding, curling, and experimenting with his latest toy or gadget. He had a US Patent for an orthopedic implant device and procedure he designed. He had a sweet tooth and especially loved pecan pie, but he was also known to push boundaries to create things like a mashed potato cornbread fried chicken “cake” and balsamic glaze on vanilla ice cream. He was a loyal Pittsburgh Steelers fan and could build anything.

He had a passion for helping others through his work as an orthopedist but also anyone he encountered. He was well-known in the community and easily recognizable at the local curling club.  The impact he had on those around him near and far is immeasurable.

Owen married his soulmate Misuk in February 2020 in Las Vegas, and they spent the last six years living life to the fullest.

Owen is survived by his wife Misuk; his children David Nelson, Tara Nelson Spence, Levi Nelson, Phoebe Shamp, Jimmy Spencer, Jackie Spencer, and Travis Spencer; and his grandchildren Leo, Miriam, Canaan, and Sadie.

Owen died on July 13, 2026 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was a beloved husband, dad, pappy, harabeoji, and friend and will be missed by many. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his memory to Belfast Curling Club, PO Box 281, Belfast, ME 04915.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday September 26th from 3pm to 7pm at the Belfast Curling Club.