Jeff Nelson has served our nation for over 35 years, first fulfilling his boyhood dream…earning the title of a United States Marine back in 1986. He came back home to South Dakota in 1990 and enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard while attending the University of South Dakota, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. His service continued in the National Guard while he was a Full-time Firefighter for the City of Sioux Falls, but he later received his Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1997 and shortly there-after went to work full-time with the Minnesota Army National Guard. Jeff is a decorated Veteran serving two tours in Iraq including one tour as a Battery Commander – where he was awarded the Bronze Star. Jeff retired in May 2022 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Living a self-described blessed life, Jeff’s military career allowed him to see and experience the world in ways he never thought possible, as he’s lived and worked in 6 different countries, traveled to 17 countries around the world. As part of those travels, Jeff hiked to Base Camp – Mt. Everest and was on duty at the American Embassy in former East Berlin, East Germany the day the Berlin Wall came down on November 9th, 1989 – experiencing the true meaning of freedom as he watched hundreds of East German families climb over that wall to their first taste of freedom. But Jeff’s greatest blessings in life have been his faith and family…centered around his wife Kari and their 2 boys Samuel and Isaac.
Jeff has the privilege of continuing to serve by assisting his fellow Veterans as the Day County Veterans Service Officer in Webster, SD.
