Tanya Lee Nelson

October 2, 1956 - February 2, 2021

Tanya Lee Nelson, 64, of Rensselaer, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at her residence. Tanya was born in Oakland, CA on October 2, 1956, the daughter of Erwin Leroy “Smokey” and Gertrude Ananda (Sjoberg) Hobbs. Tanya graduated from James Logan High School with the Class of 1974. She married Don Nelson who preceded her in death in November 2019. Tanya was retired from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, where she worked as a Clerk. Prior to that, she was the Assistant Operations Director at Smart Vehicles Document Solutions by BMW and also worked at the Naval Supply Center in Oakland, CA. She will be remembered as a fun, kind, and loving lady. Tanya had a great love for animals, especially her four cats and birds, who were like children to her. She was fond of being outdoors and gardening. Every week she cherished her time meeting and visiting with friends over lunch. She was a long standing member of the First Unitarian Church of Hobart. Tanya will be deeply missed by her large community of friends at church. Tanya is survived by her brother, Bruce (Kathy) Larson of Las Vegas, NV and her best friend, Carrie Cool of Rensselaer, IN. She was preceded in death by her parents. A Memorial Service for Tanya and her late husband Don will be held at a later date at the First Unitarian Church of Hobart. Interment will take place at the First Unitarian Church of Hobart Memorial Garden. Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer has been entrusted with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Tanya’s honor may be made to the Friends of the Jasper County Animal Shelter, c/o the Jasper-Newton Foundation, 301 N. Van Rensselaer St., Rensselaer, IN 47978, www.jaspernewtonfoundation.org