Marilyn Nelson

Marilyn C. Nelson, age 86, died on January 22, 2014 at Libertyville Manor in Libertyville, Illinois after a long battle with breast cancer. She was born October 13, 1927 in Minot, North Dakota, the daughter of Myrtle (Grimsrud) and Victor S. Carlson. The family moved to Green Bay when Marilyn was eight years old. Following graduation from Green Bay West High School in 1945, Marilyn attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in speech therapy in 1949. She worked as a speech therapist for the school systems in Dixon, Illinois and Sheboygan, Wisconsin. On June 28, 1952 Marilyn married John H. Nelson at Pres House in Madison. Marilyn and John lived in Waukesha, Wisconsin and Glenview, Illinois before moving to Madison in 1987. While living in Glenview, Marilyn worked in the library of New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois for 10 years. In Madison, she was a past board member of the Y.W.C.A, the American Association of University Women, Daughters of Demeter, Theater Bus, and University League. She was an active member of the Attic Angel Association, and, since 1962, a volunteer with Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. In 1997, Marilyn was honored as Volunteer of the Year by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. Marilyn was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband, John, who died in 1997. She is survived by her children, John V. (Carol), Rochester, New York, Janet Lichtenberger (Ken), Libertyville, Illinois, and Margie Best (Steve), Chicago, Illinois, five grandchildren, Caroline and Erik Lichtenberger, and Laura, Jack, and Anna Best, a brother, Rod Carlson (Norma), Dallas, Texas, a niece and two nephews. A memorial service will be held at Cress Funeral Home at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin ( www.plannedparenthood.org/wisconsin ), 302 N. Jackson Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, or Attic Angel Association ( www.atticangel.org ), 640 Junction Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53717.