Obituary of Matthew Prihoda Nelson

Matthew Prihoda Nelson, a kind-hearted and deeply thoughtful soul, passed away on April 12, 2025, after a courageous battle with liver failure. He was 39 years old.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 22, 1985, Matthew grew up with a passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for beauty, which led him to pursue a career as a cinematographer.

Matthew was known by those closest to him as generous, gentle, and a thoughtful critical thinker. He had a larger-than-life personality; those who knew him well will remember his big booming voice and his exuberant laugh. He loved cooking, playing video games, and engaging in animated conversations about the things he was most passionate about. Those who knew him well will miss his clever wit and his excellent sense of humor. He was especially close to his family and treasured family nights at the Nelson household with the Rylanders and his grandpa — filled with games, laughter, and movies.

He is survived by his loving parents, Dave and Jill Nelson, his sister Rachael (and her spouse Jake), his brother Andrew (and his spouse Katie), and his nieces and nephews (Hannah, Olivia, Owen, Liam, and Eleanor). Matthew died peacefully, surrounded by the family that he loved. His legacy also lives on in the countless lives he touched through his kindness, creativity, and unwavering spirit. 

Matthew was on a profound journey of recovery and had proudly been sober for ten months. He fought hard to reclaim the life he deserved — with strength, grace, and resilience. He was a warrior in every sense of the word.

A celebration of Matthew’s life will be held at Whitetail Woods Regional Park (17100 Station Trail, Farmington, MN 55024) on what would have been Matthew’s 40th birthday: August 22nd, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. A sharing circle will be held at 6:00pm for people who would like to share or hear memories of Matt to honor his life and pay tribute to his memory. Food and drinks will be served. All who knew and loved him are welcome.

In honor of Matthew’s commitment to healing and recovery, the family kindly asks that donations be made in his memory to Minnesota Recovery Connection (https://minnesotarecovery.org/).