Donna Jean Peterson Nelson

Donna Jean Peterson Nelson, collector of useless trinkets, champion of half finished craft projects, and the most generous soul you could ever hope to meet, left this world on June 24th, 2026. Her family is still finding tiny ceramic animals, stray beads, and three different “almost done” blankets tucked around the house like little love notes she forgot to finish.

Born on September 4th, 1946, Donna lived a life stitched together with love, laughter, and a healthy dose of chaos. She never met a craft project she didn’t want to start — and she never let the fact that she might not finish it stop her. Her home was a wonderland of yarn, fabric scraps, and ambitious plans.

What she did finish, though, were the things that mattered most: the baby blankets, tiny sweaters, Halloween costumes, and perfectly-matched outfits she made for her children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Each one was stitched with love, stubbornness, and at least one moment of her saying, “I know it looks weird now, but trust the process.”

Donna was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back — literally — even if it meant she’d walk around shivering and insisting she was “totally fine”. Her generosity was effortless, instinctive, and endless.

She loved exploring the world with her family, whether it was a big trip, a spontaneous adventure, or simply wandering somewhere new “just to see what’s there.” She believed the best memories came from getting a little lost together.

And oh, was she competitive — in the most delightful way. She loved bowling, golfing, and any card game that gave her an excuse to laugh, tease, and occasionally gloat. She played to win, but she played mostly for the joy of being with the people she loved.

Her legacy is simple and enormous: love people well, give freely, explore often, and never underestimate the emotional value of a tiny porcelain mouse or a half finished quilt.

Above all, Donna adored her husband, David Lawrence Nelson. Their 60 year marriage was the kind of partnership people point to when they talk about soulmates — steady, joyful, full of laughter, and built on a lifetime of inside jokes no one else ever fully understood. Dave knew when to respond and when not to. His main goal in life was to make her happy.

They traveled the world together, raised a family together, and navigated every high and low with a kind of quiet teamwork that made everything look easy. They were each other’s favorite person, best friend, and soft place to land. She is also survived by her children: Devin Michael Nelson (Ayumi Ai), Dawn Marie Nelson Weiss (Andy Weiss), Dina Michelle Nelson Koehler. They blessed her with her favorite people - 6 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. She loved to dote on and spoil each and every one of them.

There will never be enough space on any page to say how much she meant to the people that she touched in this world.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, June 30th, 2026 at 6-8pm at Goff Mortuary, 8090 State Street, Midvale, UT 84047, followed by a Celebration of Life on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 from 6-8pm at 156 Alta View Way, Sandy Utah 84070, where we will honor Donna, the way she lived — with warmth, laughter, stories, and a table full of trinkets, crafts, and memories no one can quite explain but everyone will want to take home.