Walter Kenneth Nelson, Jr.

Walter Kenneth “Ken” Nelson, Jr, 88, of New Carrollton, MD, passed away peacefully on 01/15/2025 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Born in Manistee, Michigan, Ken was the child of Walter Kenneth Nelson, Sr and Clara (Adamski) Nelson. 

Ken was raised and educated in Manistee, Michigan, and graduated from Manistee High School. Ken was enlisted in the United States Army from 1956 to 1959, including service in the U.S. Army Security Agency. Ken began his National Security Agency career as a Signal Conversion Technician. He steadily rose through the ranks to become a computer programmer and a software engineer. During these years, Ken met Pauline Kay of Clintwood, VA, and they were married in 1965 at the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle, in Washington DC. Ken and Polly raised their family in nearby Prince George’s County. 

In 1997, Ken retired after 35 years of service from NSA. After his government retirement, Ken worked eleven years as a contract employee in private sector for Computer Sciences Corporation and Booz Allen Hamilton. 

In his post-retirement years, Ken enjoyed making homemade soups, weekly brunches with his church ladies, playing the slot machines at various casinos, stretching from Las Vegas to Dover, Delaware. He enjoyed going to the movies, dining out, particularly on the waterfront in Annapolis, and going on road trips. Ken also enjoyed spending time with the various Nelson pets, most notably Sherman and Omar. Before his health started to decline, Ken was an active member Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in College Park, MD. He was also an avid fan of The Washington Football Team and Michigan Wolverines. Ken also enjoyed sharing and sending funny jokes by the many dozens to all of us lucky to be bombarded with his Nelson humor. 

Ken is survived by his three children, sons Kenneth Todd Nelson and Thomas Tyler Nelson, daughter Tamara Kay Maria Nelson, grandson Ian Zachary Nelson, and sister-in-law Cathy Nelson. 

Ken was predeceased by his beloved wife of 39 years, Pauline “Polly” Kay Nelson, and his brother James “Jim” John Nelson. 

Family and friends are invited to honor and remember Ken’s life at a viewing located at Gasch’s Funeral Home, 4739 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781 on 01/22/2025, visiting hours from 4-8pm. A funeral mass will be held at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 4902 Berwyn Rd, College Park, MD 20740 on 01/23/2025 at 11am, and the entombment to be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906 on 01/24/2025 at 11:30am. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ken’s name to the Alzheimer's Association.