In Memory
Brook Nelson
Lieutenant Colonel Brook Allan Nelson, 42, of Anchorage, died Monday, November 25, 2013 while stationed with the US Army in Seoul, Korea.
Brook was born to Barbara and Bob Nelson, June 4, 1971 in Landstuhl, Germany.
He graduated from Monmouth High School in 1989 while his family was stationed with the U.S. Army at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey. He received a BA degree in May 1993 from the University of Tampa, Florida in Communications and attended school on an ROTC scholarship.
He met and married his wife of 16 years, Anja Schmidt, on April 26, 1997, while he was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC, and she was visiting from her home in the former East Germany and working as an au pair. During their marriage, they had two daughters and traveled around the world. Brook served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His wife, a US Army Captain, served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Together they were assigned to Korea this past summer.
Brook's forte was making people laugh with his witty sarcasm and ease with the world. Quick with a story and even quicker with a "let's have fun" attitude, he would never hesitate to help people and make friends. Brook loved being a father the most. He will be missed terribly by family, friends, classmates and his fellow soldiers.
Brook is survived by his wife and their two children, Camryn Michelle Nelson, 12 and Dana Mia Nelson, 10 in Seoul, Korea; his brothers: Bob Nelson Jr. in Anchorage, AK; Brian Nelson in Raleigh, NC; Brad Nelson in Soldotna, AK; and his sisters: Beth Bluestein in Phoenix, AZ; Brandi Nelson in Anchorage, AK; BreAnn Miller in Las Vegas, NV; Jackie Haring in Ft. Lewis; WA and Esha Marie Nelson in Anchorage, AK. He is survived by 7 nieces and nephews. Brook is also survived by his parents, Command Sergeant Major (US Army/Ret) Bob and Barbara Nelson of Anchorage.
Virginia Matthews (1989)
To the Nelson Family,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss of your beloved Brook Nelson. I dated him and knew him well at SAHS in the 10th grade and shared and met each other when we were both in Biology class, Mr. Markelwitz's class. I'm sorry that I had not known what incredible heights in the military that he rose to, but am SO proud of him and his family for blessing us with his soul and vitality in this world. I lost both my mother and brother to serious illnesses all in the course of the past three years, so I am still grieving such a great loss and know exactly what you as the family must be feeling and going through at this time. Only time will heal the grieving and loss that you feel and I know and hope that time will heal your grieving as will mine as well.
I was so blessed to know of him in this lifetime as he touched all he knew and liked and always had a GREAT smile and was always that happy person with those braces in high school and I know beyond that in life!
Sincerely, Fond Memories and my Sincere Condolences to the Nelson Family,
Virginia (Gini Lee) Matthews, Class of 1989'
Jennifer Aguirre (Corder) (1989)
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Brook. I remember hanging out with him in high school. He was such a great guy to be around. Everyone got along with him and he was so funny!!!
Sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Jen Corder
class of 1989
Maria Heddleson (Blue) (1990)
To the Nelson Family:
I convey my sincerest condolences during this most difficult time. I knew Brook when we both attended Seoul American High School. He and I were in JRTOC together and he was my platoon leader back then. As Brook was a year older than me, we lost touch with after his graduation. I will never forget his smile and his genuine respect for people. Brook was popular and well liked and I know he will forever be missed.
Maria (Heddleson) Blue
Class of 1990
Craig McMurdo (1989)
It's for reasons like these that I'm reluctant to hit the "In Memory" button on this website. Brook was a really great guy and I'm so terribly sorry to hear of his passing. We were all Kings in our day and those fleeting memories will always be happy ones. It looks like Brook went on to live an amazing life, and it seems almost fitting that his final days were spent in the fields of his youth. I have a photo of Brook that I took in the JROTC classroom where he's looking at me with rolled eyes and a wild '80's haircut. I guess that's where he'll always remain in my mind. To brother Brian and the rest of your family, my sincere condolences for your heavy loss.
Kelly Bonine (Hall) (1989)
We received this from Brook's father on 3/5/2014:
From: Bob nelson
Email: Bob58@alaska.com
I just found this site and would love to convey my thanks for his friends for sharing their memories of Brook. He is terribly missed by all that knew and loved him.