Nelson Edward Toburen was born Nov. 24, 1938, in Boulder, Colorado to Harold Edward Toburen and Vida Uell (Nelson) Toburen. He died Oct. 4, 2026, aged 87, in his home surrounded by family after a short battle with cancer.
Soon after his birth his parents brought him back to Thomas County Kansas and their Northwestern Kansas roots where Nelson grew to adulthood. He graduated from Colby High School, Colby, Kansas in 1957, the fourth athlete in school history to earn twelve letters. He attended Wichita University, now Wichita State University, on a football scholarship. He played freshman basketball and was an All-Conference and Honorable Mention All American end on the WU football team. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 1961 NFL draft and following his graduation that same year earned a position as an outside linebacker on the Vince Lombardi coached 1961 and 1962 World Champion Green Bay Packer teams. He played in every pre-season, regular season and championship game the Packers played during those two years until suffering a career ending neck injury while making a tackle during a game against the Baltimore Colts in Green Bay in Nov. 1962. After a period of self-healing and rehabilitation he returned to Kansas and Washburn University School of Law in 1964 where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 1967. That same year he joined the Paul Wilbert Law Firm, later “Wilbert & Towner,” in Pittsburg, Kansas where he practiced law with partners Paul Wilbert, J.B Towner, Garry Lassman, Robert Fleming, A. J. Wachter, Robert Tomassi, Gordon Gregory and Bill Wachter. In 1987, he was selected as Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District Court, Sitting at Pittsburg, by the Governor of Kansas. He served as Kansas District Court Judge and later Chief Judge of the District for 15 years until his retirement.
He married his high school sweetheart, Helen Louise Ziegelmeier in 1959. They celebrated 67years of marriage together before Helen’s passing in August of this year and were the proud parents of three children; son Chris and daughters Penny and Leigh.
Nelson was preceded in death by his parents, wife Helen, sister Judith Toburen Sloan, son Chris Toburen, daughter-in-law Judy Pratt Toburen and daughter Penny Toburen Hill. He is survived by brother Robert Toburen and wife Patricia, Saint Francisville, LA, daughter Leigh Toburen Johnston and husband Vince, of Pittsburg, five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren: grandson Steven Hill, wife Heather and children Asher, Esther, Eden, Judah and Noelle, Bentonville, AR; grandson Mark Hill, wife Tara and children Jeremiah and Hadlee, Owasso, OK; granddaughter Jessica Johnston Dreiling, husband Grant, sons Kip, Creed and Wyatt, Carl Junction, MO, and twin grandsons Kyle Johnston and Chase Johnston of Pittsburg. His son and three grandsons followed his lead and love of athletics as scholarship lettermen at division one universities.
Per his wishes no formal services are planned. His cremains will be interred at the family plot, Beulah Cemetery, Colby, Kansas at a later date. The family suggests memorials to Wesley House Nutrition Program. These may be left at or mailed to Brenner Mortuary, 114 E 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.
