KARENJO “KJ” (ANDERSON) NELSON

October 31, 1956 - December 17, 2022

On December 17, 2022, Karenjo “KJ” (Anderson) Nelson, unexpectedly passed away in Riverside, CA. She left us far too soon, at the young age of 66, while asleep in her home.

She was born in Japan on October 31, 1956 to Altha and Richard Anderson. As a military family, she lived in Arkansas and Nebraska before settling in Riverside. She graduated from La Sierra High School where she participated in Drill Team, Pep Squad, ASB, and was homecoming princess. After high school, she worked as a waitress prior to attending college abroad in France for a year, and graduated from Loma Linda University, making life-long friends along the way.

She married John Nelson at age 22, becoming a stepmother to three-year-old twin boys and two girls under twelve. After John and Karenjo had two girls of their own, she used her incredible artistic talents to develop a small craft business and do child care, so she could be a stay-athome mom. She devoted her life to her children, and was involved in every childhood activity or life experience. Then she showed the same devotion to her grandchildren. She was an amazing caregiver, homemaker, cook, and artist. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and neighbor - a remarkable woman who never met a stranger. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, their 6 children, 6 grandchildren, great granddaughter, and one granddaughter on the way.

A memorial service will be held on March 24, 2023 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 3774 Jackson St., Riverside at 1pm. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital on behalf of our beloved Karenjo.