May Andrew’s memory be forever a blessing.
Andrew Kenneth Nelson passed away on Friday, June 5, 2020 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He will be forever remembered as the most loving and compassionate human being. Andrew, a native Virginian, moved to Iowa with his wife, Melissa Gasway Nelson, the love of his life, following their marriage in 2018. He had a notable career as a financial analyst and he worked at a marketing company in Cedar Rapids at the time of his passing. Andrew was a loving husband, a devoted son, a caring nephew, a loyal brother, a doting uncle, and an ever-thoughtful friend. He leaves immeasurable loss in the hearts of those who knew him. His magnetic personality, his empathetic heart, his genuine and unwavering kindness and generosity, his steadfast patience, his remarkable talent for listening, his charming sense of humor, and his complete and total devotion to his family and friends are just a few of the characteristics that made him the extraordinary person that he was.
Andrew was born in Washington, D.C. on November 2, 1979. He was the third child born to Victor and Jacqueline Nelson. Andrew grew up in Alexandria, Virginia with an extended family that included his parents, his siblings, his maternal grandmother and his maternal aunt. He was a 1998 graduate of Episcopal High School in Alexandria. In his four years there, he exemplified spirit and determination in academics and track and field. Andrew served as co-captain of the track and field team his senior year. Despite a knee injury two years earlier, he persevered through rehabilitation to reach a level of skill that allowed him to compete among the best in the shotput. His successful career included a Draper Invitational Championship and a place on the Episcopal Throwing List. Andrew was the 1998 recipient of the Train-Doswell Memorial Cup, an award given each year to the senior who, through all of his years on the track team, and as a result of his exemplary leadership, made an outstanding contribution to the sport of track and field. Andrew later matriculated to Boston University. In 2002, Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. During his time in Boston, he excelled academically and also cultivated a love of the city and its culinary and cultural diversity. Andrew developed numerous friendships at every stage of his academic career. He remained close to his friends as they entered adulthood, and he cared for them deeply.
Following his graduation from Boston University, Andrew returned to Virginia and began his accounting career at the National Community Pharmacists Association and later worked at Clifton Larson Allen LLP. In 2013, Andrew transitioned to SoundExchange in Washington, D.C. where he was a financial analyst. There, Andrew was able to combine his passions for music and finance as he reconciled hundreds of millions of dollars in liability royalties payable to artists across all online streaming media. Andrew also initiated a historical account reconciliation overhaul and helped launch SoundExchange’s industry-leading platform.
Andrew found his greatest passion in 2011 when he met his future wife Melissa Gasway. Melissa is a native Iowan. Andrew and Melissa’s love story began in 2011 when Melissa moved from the Midwest to Arlington, Virginia for a new adventure in her career. The universe continued to cultivate their undeniable connection over the next few years and both felt that the other was the answer to their combined dreams and prayers. On December 29, 2018, Andrew and Melissa were married at the Park Hyatt in Washington, D.C., their hearts both overflowing with joy as they officially started their new life together.
Andrew and Melissa moved to Iowa in 2019. Andrew transitioned to work as a Revenue Analyst at Hibu in Cedar Rapids. As a member of the Finance Revenue Integrity team, he played an integral part in revenue reporting and auditing for the business. Andrew was beloved by his coworkers and he was just getting started with his achievements as a member of the Hibu team. Andrew and Melissa enjoyed sharing the responsibilities of homeownership, settling in to midwestern life, and continuing to build their lives together. Through their unbreakable partnership in everything they did, they fell more and more in love with each passing day. Andrew also recently become an avid nature-observer in his backyard, which expanded toward an open field, and always took time to pause and revel in the beauty of the “small things.”
Andrew found success in academics, athletics, and in his professional career but, ultimately, his greatest love was for his wife, family, and his wide group of friends. Andrew developed and fostered countless relationships as he embraced life in Virginia and Boston and Cedar Rapids. Everyone who met Andrew grew to love him. Andrew loved each person in return. Andrew will be forever remembered as the most loving and compassionate person in the lives of those he touched.
Andrew was preceded in death on his mother’s side of the family by Jane Henrietta McLagan (great-grandmother), Mabel Timothy (great-grandmother), Joseph Timothy (great-grandfather), Millicent Iristaman Timothy (grandmother), and Isaac Emmanuel Timothy (grandfather). On his father’s side, he was preceded by Elizabeth Nelson (great-grandmother), Thomas Nelson (great-grandfather), Albert Glean (great-grandfather), May Dubois (great-grandmother), Fedora Angelina Nelson (grandmother), Leon Dolliver Macauley Nelson (grandfather), Horace Alvin Norris Nelson (uncle), and Leon Dolliver Macauley Nelson, Jr. (uncle).
Andrew is survived by his wife, Melissa Gasway Nelson; his parents Victor and Jacqueline Nelson of Alexandria, Virginia; his aunt Esme Graham of Springfield, Virginia; his uncle Philip Timothy (Doreen Timothy); his aunt Marion Wildman; his brother Calvin Nelson (Melissa Gomez Nelson), niece Camila Nelson, and nephew Isaac Nelson of Springfield, Virginia; his sister Kristine Nelson (Peter Oh), nephew Sebastian Oh, and niece Olivia Oh of Memphis, Tennessee. Andrew is also survived by Melissa’s family: his parents-in-law Julie and Scott Gasway of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his brother-in-law Brent Gasway (Erin) of Indianapolis, Indiana; his brother-in-law Joel Gasway (special friend Crystal Roach) of Marion, Iowa; and his sister-in-law Lily Gasway of Des Moines, Iowa. Andrew is also survived by numerous cousins.
Andrew’s family would like to extend their gratitude to all who have reached out during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation of America in memory of Andrew (https://donate.epilepsy.com/donate). A celebration of life will be held Monday, June 15, 2020 at Cedar Memorial in Cedar Rapids, followed by a family service at National Funeral Home & National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia.
https://www.cedarmemorial.com/Obituary/2020/Jun/Andrew-K-Nelson/