James “Jim” Robert Nelson, 77, passed away on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. A memorial service will be held at11:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Holt & Holt Funeral Home in Boerne.

Jim was born Sept. 24, 1946, in San Antonio, Texas to Bob and Dee Nelson. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio.

He joined the United States Army where he served in the Fifth U.S. Army which included a tour in Vietnam. After serving in the Army as a proud veteran, Jim married JoAnn Makelki. They had two children, Jennifer and Bobbie, whom he loved dearly and acknowledged on all occasions.

After getting his real estate license, he worked in Boerne as a realtor, then with his parents at their restaurant, The Loft, which led to his becoming a restaurateur for nearly 30 years.

Simply said, Jim can be remembered smiling, helping all, remembering everyone on special occasions, his love of family history, being generous to a fault, best cook/baker ever, daily bird/squirrel feeder, Mr. Green Thumb extraordinaire, estate sale/ paintings/antiques collector, game show/college football games enthusiast, his loving visits and phone calls with family and friends — so many memories will live on.

He always made a birthday or holiday a celebratory occasion with his special flair for beautifully decorating his platters of entrees/desserts --and he always made enough for an army.

Jim was a “people person” and mostly enjoyed visiting and talking with family and friends. If you were with Jim for any length of time, you would have heard him say he was “going to live to be 96.” (He actually upped that number this past year).

Jim loved life. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, compassion and generosity.

He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Nelson of Houston; his son, Robert Nelson of Houston; two sisters, Jeanie (Gary) Gorden of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, and Bobbie (Axel) Charpentier of Finland; nieces and nephews Shannon (Jeff) Webb, Patrick, Trisha and Taylor O’Brien, and Stephanie Hutchinson; as well as numerous cousins, great nieces and nephews and foster nephew B.T. Tumlinson, who he always referred to as his “little bro.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Dee Nelson of Boerne; his maternal grandparents, Lee and Audie (later Mary Lou) D’Spain of Utopia, Texas; his paternal grandparents, Olga and Lewis Beagle of Center Point, Texas; and his sister, Tracy Hutchinson Nelson of Boerne.

The family would like to express their gratitude to all the family and friends who have shown love towards Jim and for showing your support during this time.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the staff of Holt & Holt Funeral Home of Boerne. To share words of comfort with the family, please visit www.holtfh.com.