J. Nelson Thomas Havlik

J. Nelson Thomas Havlik, age 34, was born on October 25, 1991, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and passed away there on December 19, 2025. His passing came just eight days before the loss of his beloved grandmother, Barbara Havlik, a closeness in timing that brings both sorrow and a sense of reunion.

Nelson lived with a generous heart and a spirit that drew people in. He loved skateboarding, tattoos, and the creative freedom he found in making and producing music. But above everything else, his greatest joy was his children — Penelope Havlik, Attikis Havlik, and Hezekiah Havlik. They were the center of his world, the source of his laughter, and the reason he kept pushing forward even on the hardest days.

His smile was unforgettable, his laughter infectious, and his presence had a way of making others feel understood. He was the friend who showed up without being asked, always ready to help when someone needed him. Nelson was enough—more than enough—and those who loved him wish he had believed that as deeply as they did.

Nelson leaves behind his mother, Bobbie Havlik, his three cherished children — Penelope, Attikis, and Hezekiah Havlik — and his fiancée Allison. He is also survived by his brother Myles Havlik, his aunt Paige Calbert, and many more family members and friends who will be added as the family continues gathering names and memories. He will be loved and missed forever.

His mother holds close the memory of Nelson as a carefree boy on the beach in Ludington—blue speedos, sunshine, and laughter—playing with his brother. It is a picture of pure joy she will carry always.

Those who loved him hope his children inherit his creativity, humor, and enormous heart, but not the struggles that weighed on him. His story is one of love, complexity, and a life that mattered deeply.

Service details and additional remembrances will be shared as they are finalized.