Ira Alten Nelson-Bokum

Ira Alten Nelson-Bokum died June 2, 2021. He was 41 years old. He was born January 15, 1980 and because of this auspicious date, he was the only one in his first grade class who knew who Martin Luther King Jr. was. He quit school at the age of 16 and after earning his GED, he set off on a life of adventure. He made and sold drums on a beach in California, converted an old Mercedes to run on French fry oil and traveled all over this country, Europe, England and Mexico. He spent 7 years doing milfoil eradication on Lake Fairlee, Vermont, and managed to hire his friends and brothers to work as part of the dive team. He ended up in Port Townsend, Washington, where with the help of friends, he learned the woodcutting industry. He had a Wood-Mizer sawmill and cut specialty wood for the extensive wooden boat building community. He also spent several summers salmon fishing off the coast of Alaska. He could do anything with his hands. He loved working on projects on his land. He had a beautiful garden, built an industrial machine workshop, and set up his mill yard. He also loved the woods of the Olympia National Forest and the Cascade Mountains where he hiked and skied extensively. Ira was very active in social justice and environmental work. He is survived by his mother, Martha Nelson and her partner Brion McMullan, his father Nori Bokum and his wife Tracy Malloy; brothers Harper and Toby and sisters Emma, Sarah, and Rya. He had so many wonderful friends, too numerous to count, all over the country who were also his family. His faithful dog Nook predeceased him. Ira had his share of struggles, but was exceptional for the profound empathy, compassion and grace that he developed as a result of his journey. He treated his family, friends, neighbors and the random people he encountered with the same respect, warmth and loving presence regardless of circumstance. Ira was a gentle soul with an embracing heart. His loyalty and the loyalty of his friends is a testament to who he was. Ira was a light in a world sorely in need of comfort. He left the world a better place. He is remembered and deeply missed by all who knew him. May our broken hearts open us to be more like him. Donations can be made in his name to: Best Friends Animal Society (a no-kill animal organization), 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 871-5000, or to a Food Bank in your local area.