Terry L. "TJ" Nelson, Jr., 42, of Lebanon, passed away June 3, 2019.

TJ was born Apr. 5, 1977, in Lebanon, the son of Terry L. and Marcia (Jones) Nelson. He married Melissa Kirby on September 30, 2000. She survives.

TJ graduated from Lebanon High School in 1995. He served as a Lebanon Police Officer for 18 years.

TJ loved watching and coaching sports. He was an avid golfer and would have loved to tell you about his hole-in-one on hole 9 at Cool Lake Golf Course. He also loved to fish and hunt with friends and family. His favorite sports teams were the Indiana Hoosiers, the Chicago Cubs (even through the losing years), and the Chicago Bears, especially Walter Payton. He coached baseball and football at all levels, most recently coaching football at Lebanon Middle School.

TJ liked to stay up-to-date by watching Fox News religiously. He enjoyed coffee every morning with his Dad, "Satch."

TJ and Melissa loved to be competitive with one another including Yahtzee, bowling, and rummy, anything that Melissa could beat him at. He loved to spend time with his kids including a helicopter tour with Cade, making crab legs and enjoying seafood with Reid, and getting pedicures with Sloan. TJ was always quick with a joke and could always make people laugh. He will always be remembered for his bright blue eyes and his big smile.

Survivors include his wife, Melissa Nelson of Lebanon; children, Cade, Reid, and Sloan Nelson; parents, Terry and Marcia Nelson of Lebanon; grandparents, Jim (Betty) Myers of Lebanon and Janie Cunningham of Lebanon; sister, Missy (Robert) Wallace of Longview, TX; uncles, Garry "Nellie" Nelson (deceased), Sam (Mary) Myers and, Mike (Carol) Cunningham; aunts, Gloria (Mike) Brown, Chery (Jim) Brittingham, and Joyce (David) Hinkle; nephews, Justin (Shelby) Cope and Corey (Emily) Mantooth; cousins, Jeff (Ashley) Nelson, Stephanie (Chad) O'Neal, Tabitha (Tommy) Crain, Mindy (Molly) Brown, Lauren (Blade) Lasley, Caleb Myers, Trevor Myers, and Eli Myers; father- and mother-in-law, Dave and Susie Kirby of Lebanon; sisters-in-law, Lisa (Keith) Smith, Tammy (Jeff) Swafford, Michelle (Josh) Williams and Angela Halford; and brother-in-law, David Kirby, II.

Family and Friends will gather Thursday, June 6, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. with the service at 4:00 p.m. in the Lebanon Christian Church, 610 W 250 N, Lebanon, Indiana 46052. Interment will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon. Final care for TJ has been entrusted to the Strawmyer and Drury Funeral and Cremation Service, 2400 N. Lebanon Street, Lebanon, Indiana 46052. You are invited to visit the website www.strawmyerdrury.com where you may sign his online register and leave a personal message.