Joe A. Nelson

On March 14, 2024 Joe A. Nelson went to heaven and into the arms of his Lord and Savior. Joe was born to Joel A Nelson and Annie Merle Gainer Nelson in Panama City, FL on May 2, 1958. He lived the majority of his life in Bay County until he built his own farmhouse on the old Nelson homestead in Cottondale, FL, where he lived until this day.

Joe grew up in Immanuel Baptist Church in Panama City and was an avid reader of the Bible and a professed Christian from the time of his childhood. He graduated from Bay High School in 1976 and attended Gulf Coast Community College. Thereafter he became a fireman at the Panama City Fire Department in the early 1980s. He was then employed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in Tallahassee where he was a Forensic Photographer, Crime Scene Investigator, proficient in Facial Reconstruction, Latent Print and Alternate light source with digital imaging. He took courses at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia and became a sworn expert witness. Joe retired from FDLE in 2006.

Always a hobbyist, he became knowledgeable in photography, loved the outdoors and hunted every season. Joe's love of the outdoors led to his real passion of studying birds of prey and was designated as a Licensed Florida Falconer, Florida Master Class. He became very knowledgeable and was successful with Raptor Propagation and was only the second in the State of Florida to receive a Golden Eagle Endorsement.

Joe was preceded in death by both of his parents and his older brother, LT COL Dennis Nelson, USMC. Joe is survived by his oldest brother, Joel F. Nelson (Shirley) of Freeport, FL ; sister-in-law, Jean Nelson of Gulf Breeze, FL as well as his nieces and nephews; Amber Green (Charles), LtCol Casey Nelson USMC (Greta), and Rachel Bunch (Bradley). Surviving great-nieces and nephews are, Addison Green, George Nelson, Yuuki Nelson and Nina Nelson; also a special friend and caregiver, Terisa Johnson.

Officiating the service will be Rev. Charles Johnson of Damascus Free Will Baptist Church, Marianna, FL and Craig Brannon of Immanuel Baptist Church, Panama City, FL. Services will be held at Wilson Funeral Home, 214 Airport Road, Panama City, FL on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 AM. A private family interment will be held later.

In lieu of flowers, contributions would be appreciated in memory of Joe to the Peregrine Fund at The World Center for Birds of Prey, 5668 West Flying  Hawk Lane, Boise, Idaho 83709.