Daneil Nelsson

April 27th 1918 – December 15th 2003
Memorial service at Tao Fung Shan Lutheran Church, January 18th, 2004

Reverend Daniel Nelsson passed away peacefully in Uppsala, Sweden on December 15th, 2003, at the age of 85.

A funeral service was held in Uppsala on January 5th and today we commemorate his life and many years of service to the Church in China and Hong Kong, his dedication to Tao Fung Shan in particular.

Daniel Nelsson had a deep experience of international missionary and aid work in many parts of the world. His efforts together with wife Solveig, who passed away almost three years ago, were in many cases of a pioneering nature and left a permanent impact on the respective congregations and communities where they took place.

Initially trained as a deacon, Rev. Nelsson worked in the Stockholm area for a few years before receiving his calling as a missionary to China . After studying Mandarin and English in California, he arrived in Hunan in 1947. These were difficult times for Christians in China and the Nelsson family were ordered to leave in 1949.

After a short visit to Sweden, Daniel and Solveig Nelsson were reassigned to Tao Fung Shan in Hong Kong and worked there both in the 1950s & 60s and for their last overseas posting from 1982 to 1983. After leaving Hong Kong in 1963, the dedicated couple worked in Penang, Singapore and South Africa. Shortly after leaving Hong Kong, Daniel Nelsson was ordained as a pastor and between overseas assignments worked as such in various Swedish congregations.

Daniel Nelsson had a very special personality and generously gave of himself and all his resources to help those in need. Right up to the end he participated actively in guidance sessions to members of the congregation of the Uppsala Cathedral as well as Lions Club projects. He had a gift for developing close relationships with his fellow men through deep and meaningful conversations. There are many who will gratefully think of Daniel as the one who in a simple but effective way showed them the way to God.

Daniel & Solveig Nelsson are survived by their children Anders, Staffan, Monika, Ingela & Dorothy and their respective families.