Andre Nelson

Andre fell asleep in Jesus on January 20, 2026. He was preceded in death by his infant son Jonathan; his parents Russell and Eleanor; brother-in-law Jim Mathieson; sister-in-law Joyce Nelson and brother-in-law Jim Snustad. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elaine (nee Snustad); daughters Jennifer Buchholz (Kurt) and Renee Nelson; granddaughters Linnea Hopper (Nathan) and Rebekah Black (Micah) and great grandson Callen Hopper; siblings Cherrie Mathieson and Daryl Nelson; and extended family and friends.

Andre Jon Nelson was born in 1941 in central China to Lutheran missionary parents. In 1943 the family was forced to flee during the occupation of the Japanese in World War II. They returned to China in 1947, but had to flee to Hong Kong during the Communist takeover. Andre spent many of his happiest years in Hong Kong. There he was a part of a close-knit international missionary community, spending many hours playing, swimming, and exploring their mountainside home. It was there that he also began his collection of butterflies. When he was 10 years old, he contracted rheumatic fever and spent months on bedrest. The care he received by his doctor at that time inspired him to become a doctor himself.

After a furlough in Minnesota, the family returned to Asia to serve in Taiwan where Andre finished high school. In 1959 Andre left Taiwan to attend Augsburg College and went on to medical school at the University of Minnesota. After a senior semester at a hospital in Hong Kong, he traveled to Taiwan to explore opportunities for service. While there, he met his future wife, Elaine, while serving together on a short medical mission trip in the mountains. After a whirlwind courtship by airmail, they married in 1968 in Minnesota. That same year, they returned to Taiwan as medical missionaries and began serving at Chiayi Christian Hospital.

Their first child Jennifer was born in Taiwan in 1970. Realizing the need the hospital had for a pediatric department, Andre and the family returned to the States to complete a four year residency in pediatrics. After losing their infant son, Jonathan, in 1972, Andre decided to specialize in neonatology. God blessed them with a healthy daughter, Renee, in 1973. Returning to Taiwan in 1975, Andre spent the next four years helping to develop the pediatric and neonatal departments at Chiayi Christian Hospital.

In 1979 the family returned to Minnesota where Andre worked as a neonatologist at Hennepin County Medical Center and Minneapolis Children’s Hospital until he retired in 2007.

Andre enjoyed working on the hobby farm he and Elaine owned in Lakeville, planting trees, growing wildflowers and watching wildlife. He loved to travel and spent his retirement years traveling often with Elaine. His retirement also allowed him more time to spend with his granddaughters, Linnea and Rebekah, in St. Louis.

Underneath his gentle nature lurked a mischievous sense of humor that endeared him to his family and friends. He was a loving and compassionate husband, father, grandfather, co-worker and friend. He was a voracious reader and his curiosity led him to explore the world around him. Andre had a deep faith that sustained him throughout his life and guided him to a life of service to Jesus whom he loved. He will be greatly missed, but we thank God for the impact he has made on us and on so many others.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Global Health Ministries, Lutheran Hour Ministries or the Salvation Army.