Donald L. Nelson was born on October 15, 1932 in Marquette, Michigan. He was raised in Marquette and graduated from the Graveraet High School in 1950. In his younger years, Don enjoyed playing hockey and was a member of the Sea Scouts. He grew up next to the Marquette Lighthouse and always had an affinity for maritime history. After high school graduation, he hopped a Lake freighter and worked for one season on the Great Lakes prior to enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard. He served four years at the Lower Entry Lighthouse in Portage Lake on Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula during the Korean War, and served four more years in the Coast Guard Reserve.
Over the years, Don served on several boards, including the Marquette Maritime Museum, and the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. He was a local maritime historian, having several articles published, and for a short time he had a maritime column in a local newspaper. Don was a speaker at many functions about Coast Guard and lighthouse history on Lake Superior, and was a member of several historical societies. Donald Nelson passed away in 2006.
From the description of Donald L. Nelson Maritime Collection, 1904-2003. (Michigan Technological University). WorldCat record id: 758504348
