Marianne Nielsen

Marianne Nielsen (Sullivan) was born August 16, 1928 in Valley, Nebraska to Carl and Erna (Lorenz) Sullivan. Marianne loved the outdoors and enjoyed growing up on the farm outside of town. She helped raise chickens and dairy cows and showed cattle at 4-H. She graduated from Valley High School in 1946. She went on to attend Midland College, taking night and summer courses until she finished her degree. She taught at various country schools surrounding the Valley community, before settling at Valley Elementary, where she primarily taught kindergarten. Marianne retired in the Spring of 1986. Marianne married Wayne Nielsen in June of 1948, and they were blessed with one son, Scott. Marianne and Wayne made their home in Valley. Marianne was very active in her community and her church. She was a member of the United Faith Community Church (formerly Baptist-Presbyterian), where she led Bible study and taught Sunday School for several decades, she also led Bible study at the local nursing home. She was instrumental in the founding of the Valley Historical Society, and active board member up until the last year. She was also a member in good standing of the American Legion Auxiliary for 70 years. Marianne’s family remembers her as a strong, independent woman with a kind heart. Marianne was blessed to have her son, daughter-in-law Cindy, and her grandchildren Heidi, Holly, and Ryan live only a few blocks away. She was able to share with them all of life’s simple pleasures – birthdays, holidays, sporting events and school activities. Marianne also enjoyed watching her eleven great-grandchildren grow up. Marianne loved spending time at her cabin in Central City, Colorado. Even after Wayne passed away, she would spend her summers there in the mountains where she enjoyed the relaxing pace and peacefulness of the outdoors. Marianne passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in the comfort of her own home at the age of 93 years, 8 months, and 28 days. She was preceded in death by her husband Wayne and her parents Carl and Erna Sullivan. Marianne is survived by her son Scott and daughter-in-law Cindy of Valley, grandchildren Heidi (Michael) Hudson of Madisonville, Louisiana, Holly (Kyle) Styskal of Omaha, Nebraska and Ryan (Katie) Nielsen of Fremont, Nebraska, great grandchildren Preston Nielsen, Harrison, Lorelei, Jenner, Genevieve, Gianna, Adelaide and Rhett Hudson, August Styskal, Kaleb and Ruston Nielsen, her brother and sister-in-law John and JoAnn Sullivan of Valley, Nebraska and her sister Dorothy Elias of Elkhorn, Nebraska. Funeral service 10:30 AM Monday, United Faith Community Church, Valley, NE. Interment Prospect Hill Cemetery of Elkhorn. Visitation Sunday 5-8 PM at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn. Memorials to the church.

Marianne Nielsen

August 16, 1928 - May 14, 2022