RODGER JEROME NELSON

Rodger Jerome Nelson peacefully passed away at home with his girlfriend Kat and several friends by his side at 4:20am on June 26, 2024 after a brief but courageous battle against stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Rodger son of Eric and Fran Nelson was born June 6, 1972 and lived his entire life in the

White Center area. His parents came from large 5+ siblings who all grew up together,  blessing him with a supportive network of relatives. With so many aunts, uncles, and cousins around, family gatherings were always lively affairs, never a dull moment.

He attended primary and secondary school in the Highline School District. He graduated from Green River Community College, where he earned his welding certificate. Later, he completed the FareStart program, a culinary job training and placement program.

Throughout his life, Rodger held various jobs, including working at Gai’s bakery, as a metal finisher for local aerospace companies, at the Farestart Restaurant, cleaning tour buses, and hanging gutters.

Rodger's artistic ability started at a very early age when he would graffiti and/or carved his favorite band Slayer’s name on anything and everything he could get his hands on much to his mother’s dismay. As a teen Rodger had a great passion for the art of break dancing, he and a group of friends started their own crew to create their own original routines and practice for hours hoping to be discovered. Rodger found tattoos to be a great form of creative expression. He was very proud to use his body as his canvas, displaying a colleague many different pieces of artwork including many of his own drawings that had meaning and told his story.

Rodger was married to Stephanie Olson on March 12, 2012 they separated in June 2016 yet remained friends. About the same time Rodger met his soulmate Kat,  the two have been together ever since. 

Although Rodger liked to portray himself as a “tough bad boy” those who knew him will remember him for his tremendous sense of humor and how he used it to  make the best out of any situation, the way he lit up a room with his smile, and his heart of gold. 

Preceded in death by his father Eric Jerome Nelson, Maternal Grandparents Francis Duncan Hopkins & Jean Shearers and Paternal Grandparents Roger and Carolyn Nelson.

Rodger is survived by his partner Kathleen Cook and her daughter Kiona Clemmons, His mother Frances (Hopkins) Nelson, sister Celena Nelson, nieces Michelle Matsko and Chloe Seppi, nephews Marshall Martin and Micheal Matsko, life long friend Brant Vendette, many Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, and fur baby Little Man.

A celebration of life potluck  will be held August 3, 2024 12:00 noon at  Five Mile Lake Park 36429 44th Ave S, Auburn