Nelson was born in Nobleboro, Maine on November 2. 1920. He graduated from MCI Academy in Pittsfield, Maine in June, 1938.
Nelson married Margaret Welner on February 24, 1945, and they were married for 68 years.
Nelson worked for Bath Iron Works building destroyers then went into the Navy and served on the Joseph P. Kennedy in WWII. After leaving the service he worked for many years on the Maine Central Railroad and Canadian National Railroad. He was the station master for the Freeport train station in the 1950’s and 1960’s and was recently recognized in the reopening of the Downeaster Train Service to Freeport and Brunswick, Maine.
In addition to working on the railroad, he was an entrepreneur who often had a business on the side. His first venture was in the 1950’s where he placed televisions in local motels and they would operate after putting a quarter in the slot. His last side business was when he opened The Stafford House B&B with his wife Margaret and daughter Judi.
He was a skilled musician and played the saxophone in local bands throughout his life. Nelson took up the sport of running at the age of 65 and competed in nearly 100 races around the state and won dozens of trophies as a result. After suffering a heart attack at the finish line of the inaugural Beach to Beacon 10k, he returned to race again 4 years later and finished second in his age group.
Nelson’s true passion was his family. He loved teaching his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to ride a bicycle, throw a ball or shoot a basketball and he attended thousands of their games over his lifetime.
Nelson is survived by his wife Margaret, children Judi Bauer, Jill Soule and Stafford Soule, 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sisters Virginia Smithwick and Jean Hahn, and by his brother Delmont Soule.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick, ME with the Rev. Sandy Williams officiating. Interment will follow in Rogers Cemetery, Topsham, ME.
Donations in Nelson Soule’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1 Bowdoin Mill Island, Topsham, ME 04086 or to the American Heart Association, 51 U.S. Route 1, Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04074.
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