Jay H. Nelson, beloved father, grandfather and brother, died Monday at Kaplan Family Hospice in Danvers after a long and courageous struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Jay leaves his son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Robin Kiwacz Nelson and his grandchildren, Aiden, Ayana, Layla and Landon Nelson of Salem and a stepson Scott Reed of Lynn, who is the father of six.. He was the brother of Eleanor Little of Raynham, Ralph Nelson of Lynn, Lynne Tripp of Tewksbury, Cynthia Doucette of Lynn and brother of the late Thomas Nelson of Lynn.

Jay's grandfather saw combat with the Army during World War II and his two older brothers served with the Army in Vietnam. Jay himself was too young for Vietnam, but he volunteered to join the Army where he helped clean up radioactive materials left from nuclear weapons tests in the Marshall Islands.

Before retiring on a medical disability, he drove for many years for Eastern Propane. He had earlier worked for the Franklin Fruit Co. and as a driver for Pepsi Cola.

Relatives and friends are invited to join an informal celebration of Jay's life at the Goodrich Funeral Home, 128 Washington St., on Friday, July 14, from 5 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation in Jay's memory to Wolf's Hollow, using the following link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=XuNhSp6vnKFqq60vtAJSbZgCW4zrraVExJNFXJjZ6h-CNqatpLnqgeTlKIxIenmCKVw0TG&country.x=US&locale.x=US or to a charity of their choice.