Nelson hopes to travel, spend time with family

After working for over three decades in Wrangell, resident Jim Nelson has retired at the age of 56.

Nelson spent the last five years working as general manager of the Tyee Hydroelectric Plant for Thomas Bay Power Authority, which serves both Wrangell and Petersburg.

Prior to his time at Thomas Bay, Nelson worked 28 years for the city and borough of Wrangell.

Some of his proudest accomplishments in his career include the installation of the power line out to Muskeg Meadows golf course and establishing the electric heat rate for the city while working for Wrangell, and the “big rewind” of the hydroelectric plant’s generators.

“That was a big project to have those rewound,” Nelson said.

His state of good health, four grandchildren (three of whom live in Wrangell) and he and his wife’s desire to travel, were reasons that helped him decide to retire. And, he gets to spend more time with his dog, Zelda, too, he said.

But Nelson said the decision to retire wasn’t exactly easy.

“It was hard, because I have worked my whole life,” Nelson said. “I miss the work, I miss the people I worked with.”

However, Nelson and his wife Sue already have grand plans to spend time traveling. The couple recently returned from a trip to Mexico and plan to travel to the East Coast to see the fall colors in New England later this year. They also would like to take a cruise near the Panama Canal, and are deciding on a different destination for another cruise. Nelson said he and Sue will be spending time traveling with their camper, as well.

Nelson was ten years old when he moved to Wrangell, and though he may be leaving his beloved town for vacations, he said he will always return.

“I will always be back,” he said of Wrangell. “It’s home.”