Colburne "Coly" Nelson

Colburne "Coly" Nelson, 78 of Sidney, passed away at the Golden Living Center in Sidney, Sunday morning, April 12, 2015.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Thurs., April 16 with Wake Services at 6 p.m., Wednesday evening, April 15. Both services will be in the St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Father Jim Heithoff officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be at 3 p.m., Thursday in the Oregon Trail Memorial Park Cemetery in Bridgeport.

Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Coly's care and funeral arrangements.

Colburne Owen Nelson, the son of Robert and Alby (Kubes) Nelson was born on May 31, 1936 north of Potter in Cheyenne County. The family moved to the Redington area where Coly attended country school up to the eighth grade. Coly was crowned Homecoming King and graduated from Bridgeport High School with the Class of 1955. He was involved with 4-H as a Club Leader, a member of the Sidney Jaycees, the Elks Club, St. Patrick's School Board, the Knights of Columbus and the Saddle Club. He was well known in the Sidney community where he was employed for thirty-four years with the telephone company. He farmed and ranched most of his life, and owned the N-C Ranch two miles east of Sidney. While serving in the United States Army Coly was stationed in Germany. Coly enjoyed sharing a story where he claimed to have broken Army policy to see Elvis using a company vehicle. He was an avid reader of three local newspapers, the Farm Journal, Western Horseman and various farm publications and trade magazines.

Survivors include his former spouse: Aileen Nelson of Lexington; his children: Shawn Nelson and wife Laurie of Dallas, Ga., Matt Nelson of Sidney, Mike Nelson and wife Sherianne of Scottsdale, Ariz., Marty Nelson and wife Kristen of Fremont and Julie Geise and husband Derek of Lincoln; brothers: Don and wife Gloria of Bridgeport, Bart and wife Arlene of Cheyenne, Jerry and wife Linda of North Platte and Ward and wife Barb of Bridgeport; (11) grandchildren: Abigail, Raegan, Noah, M'Kenna, Kaylee, Emma, Maxwell, Samuel, Owen, Ketter and Emersyn.

Coly was preceded in death by his parents and (1) brother: Roger.