Michael S. Nelson, age 58 of Montville, died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 31, 2021. He has lived in Montville his entire life.
Mike was a railroad conductor with NJ Transit Rail since 1987 and was most recently operating from Suffern to Hoboken. He absolutely loved his job and the people he worked with. He had a special relationship with his “NJ Transit Family” and he’ll miss them all very much. Mike had a collection of bicycles that he kept stashed at various NJ Transit stations and whenever he had a prolonged break, he would take one of his bikes for a ride to make good use of his time.
Mike grew up in Montville and graduated from Morris Catholic High School with the class of 1981. He purchased his childhood home from his parents and has lived at the same address for nearly his entire life. He enjoyed playing with electronics, including his Tesla coil, reading mystery novels, and watching British TV shows. He was a huge fan of Monty Python and also enjoyed the Three Stooges and Abbott & Costello. Interestingly enough, he was also a fan of the daytime soap opera “Guiding Light.” Mike had his own, unique sense of humor that earned him the name “Uncle Scary” from his nieces and nephews. He was particularly good at tormenting kids with his scary stories and practical jokes, which the kids all loved him for. He was always ready to have fun and to share a laugh.
Mike was an animal lover in the truest sense. Throughout the years, he had many cats, his beloved dog Leon, and currently his two kitties, which were like children to him so he called them his “kid-ties:” Mea-Felis and Homer-Max. He loved those cats so much and he spoiled them terribly. Mike’s coworkers at NJ Transit were always amazed by Mike’s love for animals. Even when working, he couldn’t pass a dog or cat without stopping to pet them, get all mushy with them, and just fawn over them. And if he had food in his pocket, he would slip them a little treat to enjoy! He was a true animal lover and just couldn’t help himself!
In 1989, Mike met Mary Anne Banta through a personal ad. They enjoyed their first date on August 10, 1989 and it was love at first sight. By the third date, they were inseparable and wedding vows were exchanged on October 20, 1990. Mary Anne describes their thirty years together as amazing, unconventional, wild, crazy, and fun. They never left the ‘honeymoon’ stage and enjoyed doing everything together. Mary Anne particularly enjoyed riding in the locomotive with Mike whenever he had to work on their anniversary, birthday, or holiday. Mike was always very protective of Mary Anne, devoted to her, supportive of all her needs, and he loved her very much. She will miss him dearly and has a heart full of fond memories to cherish.
Mike is survived by his dear wife Mary Anne Banta-Nelson of Montville, his mother-in-law; Alma Banta of Kinnelon, his extended in-laws; Liz, Alma, Terri, Clare, and Steve, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and his NJ Transit Rail family. He was predeceased by his mother, Edith in 2007, and by his father, David, in 2010.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, for a celebration of Mike’s life on Friday, August 6, 2021 from 4-8 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 AM on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at St. Mary’s RC Church, 17 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Mike’s name are asked to consider a donation to your local animal shelter.
