John Louis Nebel

John Nebel passed away peacefully, at home with his family in Seattle, from a recurrence of cancer. He had just celebrated his 79th birthday.

John was born in Shelton, WA, to Merle and Phyllis Nebel. The family moved to Mercer Island in 1961, where he attended Mercer Island High School. He played basketball at MIHS and kept up many of his high school friendships throughout his life. Following high school, John attended Washington State University, playing basketball on the freshman team during its famous undefeated season. After graduation he served in the US Army until he was critically injured in Viet Nam. Despite losing a leg and sustaining other life-threatening injuries that would reshape his life, he never let those challenges define or limit him. He earned a master’s degree in international finance and went to work in banking. In 1976 he married Jennifer Welti and for the next 49 years created and nurtured a close and loving family, which he considered his most notable legacy. Since retiring he began writing, taking up the mantle of his grandmother as family historian. He created many family treasures, chief among them a memoir of his Viet Nam experience and, most recently, compiled and edited the personal histories of the women in his family. These books are invaluable gifts to his large extended family and will be appreciated by generations to come.

John is survived by his wife, Jennifer; daughters Marta Ruiz (Ruben), Rebecca (René Rodriguez); son Mark; brother Robert and sister-in-law Sherry; nephew, Eric; and seven grandchildren, Isabel Kembel, Maya Kembel, Cristina Noelani Ruiz, Hayley Nebel, Olivia Nebel, Jayce Rodriguez and Natalia Rodriguez.