James R. Nelson Jr., age 45, of 1990 N. Water Ave. ,Hermitage, PA died Monday, July 9, 2012, at 7:19 p.m. in UPMC Passavant Hospital, in Pittsburgh, PA after a courageous battle with cancer. James was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 17, 1966, the son of the late James R. Nelson Sr. and Sandra (Martin) Lucas who survives him of Hermitage, PA. He was a 1985 graduate of Hickory High School in Hermitage and then went on to earn an Electronic Engineering Associate Degree at ATES Technical Institute in Niles, OH. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a Senior Airman in the Persian Gulf. during Operation Desert Storm. He worked as a laborer at Wheatland Tube in Niles, OH, for 17 years. .During high school, he had worked at Quaker Steak & Lube in Sharon, PA. Being an avid video game player, he enjoyed playing them with his children and spending time with his family. He was of the Catholic faith. Besides his mother , he is survived by his daughter, Emily A. Nelson, and his son, James R. Nelson III, both of Hermitage,PA, and his son, Matthew A. Nelson serving with the U.S. Airforce. Also survivng are his brothers, Richard Nelson and Christopher Lucas, both of Hermitage,PA. and a half-sister, Melissa Nelson and a half-brother, Bradley Nelson both of Monongahela, PA. and two step-brothers, Ted and Shawn Bilak of Valdosta, GA. He was preceeded in death by his father and his grandparents. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society PA Division, Attn: Memorial & Honor Gifts,P.O. Box 897, Hershey, PA 17033 Friends are invited to call Friday, July 13, 2012, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Harold W. Stevenson Funeral Home, 264 East State St., Sharon, PA 16146. Funeral service at Harold W. Stevenson Funeral Home, Sharon, PA. at 11:00a.m. on Saturday, July 14th, 2012, with Rev Jeffrey Harter, of Sts. Peter and Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sharon, officiating. Interment with Full Military Honors presented by the Hickory VFW, Post 6166 Honor Guard at Westside Cemetery, S. Pymatuning twp., PA.