Sculptor Henry "Hank" Nelson, of Freeland, Washington, passed away February 28, 2022, at the age of 84. Born in Tucson, Arizona, on May 1, 1937, a true land of rock, he fell in love with stone early on in his life. At the age of 20, he found himself dry-docked for a while in Bremerton, Washington, during his time with the US Navy. It was then that he knew exactly where he belonged, though it would take almost three decades to make it happen. After starting a family in the desert Southwest, Hank gradually began to find his way back to the Pacific Northwest…. but first, a house built almost entirely of stone had to manifest in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the late 1970’s. After that, it wasn’t long before he would be back in the land he loved, to spend the rest of his life surrounded by water.

In 1984, Hank began the journey of becoming a sculptor, when he apprenticed with a marble carver in Italy. In 1993, a dream began to unfold on South Whidbey…a dream that emerged beneath the Hemlock trees, among ferns and thistle and blackberry bramble. With his laser focus on carving and casting, collecting and assembling, along with the hard work of many others, Cloudstone Sculpture Park blossomed into what it is today.

Cloudstone now exists as a haven for anyone who wishes to explore the various realms of three-dimensional art. Hanks’ passion for travel, as well as his fascination with other cultures, can be seen in much of his work. Periodically, other sculptors’ work will be placed in the Park; the Park will also exist as an educational facility in perpetuity to carry on Hank’s mission and passion for 3-D art. For more information, please feel free to visit cloudstonefoundation.org. Also, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Foundation to support the Park’s operations.

Hank was preceded in death by his father, Dines Nelson; Mother, Anne Chatillon; Stepmother, Barbara Shaul; wife, Deborah Nelson; and Sister, Indiana Nelson. He leaves behind many loved ones: His sister, Wendy Nelson; children, Mike Nelson, Jennifer (Curtis) Chambers, Rebecca (Stefan) Jonsson; grandchildren, Kathleen, Andrew, Jessica, Kristina, Caitlyn, Brayden; great-grandchildren, Olive, Camila; and many friends.

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