Nelson Gonzalez

July 18, 1935 - April 2, 2015

M. Nelson Gonzalez passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at his home, after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born on July 18, 1935 in La Serena, Chile to Rosa Piña Gaete and Manuel Gonzalez Muños. Nelson attended schools in La Serena before working on the family’s farm. He moved to Santiago to work as a mechanic. There he met and fell in love with Norma Silvia Rivera. They were married in Santiago on Feb. 3, 1957. The family moved to his hometown where they raised their two children, Norma Ingrid and Nelson Antonio and operated a successful trucking company. The Gonzalez family became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 12, 1967. They, along with their two children, were sealed together, for time and all eternity in the Mesa, Arizona Temple on January 17, 1969. In 1968, the family moved to the United States and lived in Delta and in Grand Junction, Colorado. Nelson worked in the trucking industry for many years. After spending a few years in Tucson, Arizona, Nelson and Norma settled in Utah, first in Orem and then in Lindon, where they operated a trucking company. Nelson enjoyed spending time traveling with his family in his big diesel trucks, he liked to go dancing with his life-long companion, visiting with friends, attending and watching soccer games (especially when his grandchildren were playing) and enjoyed working in his garden. Once he became a grandfather, his greatest joy came from spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He served in numerous church callings throughout his life, and especially enjoyed serving the members in the Lindon 16th Ward. Our beloved husband, dad and grandfather, “Tata,” is survived by his wife and eternal companion of 58 years, Norma Rivera, their two children Norma Collett and Nelson A. Gonzalez (Julie Hansen), five grandchildren, Sydney Almeida (Gonzalez), Jessica Brown (Collett), Andrew Collett, Anthony Gonzalez and Allie Burr (Gonzalez). He will also be greatly missed by his five great grandchildren, Charlotte, Kennedy, Stephen, Colton and Graeme. He is also survived by four sisters, one brother and numerous nieces and nephews. His parents and his older brother, Wilson, preceded him in death. The family would like to thank Envision Home Health and Hospice and their staff, especially Nate Mansanarez, for the kind, gentle and personal care for Nelson, the past two months. We also appreciate the care he received from Dr. Wendy Breyer and her staff and Dr. Brandon Reynolds and his staff. Funeral services will be held, Friday, April 17, 2015 at 2 p.m., in the Lindon 16th Ward chapel located at 610 West 100 South. A viewing will be held in the same church building prior to the funeral, from 12 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. He will be buried in the Lindon Cemetery.