Marilyn Nielsen

1935 - 2025

Marilyn Ann Nielsen, of Greenville, MI, and Ellenton, FL, passed away November 6, 2025, in Florida. She was the youngest 90-year-old anyone knew, so her death was sudden and unexpected. Marilyn celebrated life every day and anyone who spent time with her often heard her say, "I am so blessed!"
She loved to garden, read, do puzzles, walk, play cards, ride her bicycle, and especially to visit with people. She loved sitting on the patio down in Florida and chatting with whoever stopped for a time. She loved walking at the lake and going for boat rides. She never hung up the phone until she said, "I love you!", to whichever kid or grandkid was on the line.
Marilyn was a caregiver. In the last several years, she took care of her good friend Ed Walburn, in Florida and Michigan. They loved playing cards, traveling, visiting with friends, eating out and fiercely competing at cribbage. She also became very close to Ed's niece, Peg Jarman, who took such good care of Ed and Marilyn.
Marilyn had the best summer this year! We didn't know it was to be her last. She loved living at the lake and enjoyed watching the water and the birds, the color of the trees across the lake – different greens in Spring and lots of red, yellow and orange in the Fall. She used her Red Ryder BB gun to fend off the geese on the beach and the squirrel who raided her bird seed on the deck and truly earned her nickname, Annie Oakley. She enjoyed the Nielsen camping weekend at her son's house, visits from almost all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, boat rides and evenings on the deck with her dearest neighbors, Kevin and Carol Bird, endless walks with whoever was around, eating out with friends and family and her 90th birthday celebration (she was so surprised at how many people came). This summer Marilyn glowed and we were pretty sure she would outlive us all!
Marilyn is well loved and will be dearly missed. She is survived by her children, including Teresa (Tom) Waterloo of Jenison, Tim (Terri) Nielsen of Fenwick, Bill Nielsen of Greenville and Shari Nielsen of Ellenton, FL. Grandchildren include Ben (Brianna) Waterloo, Nick (Courtney) Waterloo, Brandon (Lindsay) Waterloo and Kait (Tyler) Cleveland; Christian (Kristen) Johnson, Ashley (Nick) Bailey, TJ (Allison) Nielsen, Ronnie (Patrick) Nielsen and Brad (Jennifer Page) Vlastuin; Gordi Wiest and Emily (Brandon) Warren. Marilyn is also survived by great grandchildren Elaina, Everett, Kellan, Josephine, Elliott, Felicity, Ella, Lyla, Brenton, Zach, Aubree, Carsen, Declan, Rhiannon, Layla, Sonya, Brooke, Natalie, Lauren, Gavin, Maddux, Dylan, Austin, Alison, Haley, Hayden, Cayla, Joey, Jackson, Parker, Shepherd and Archer, as well as brothers, Owen and Noel Hansen and sister Vicki Harvey, many nieces and nephews, and many, many friends.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 9844 SW Greenville Road, Greenville, MI, with Pastor Nan Dehnkee officiating.
A memorial service will be held on January 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Woods Hall in Terra Siesta Park, Ellenton, FL, with Pastor Marilyn Lewis officiating.