Marilyn A. Nelson

Marilyn Anne (Popp) Nelson passed away peacefully into the Kingdom of God on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, while in the company of her family at Westwood Nursing and Rehab Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Marilyn’s family invites the community to join them in a celebration of Marilyn’s life at the Haus Barn in Manning on Saturday, January 6, 2018, with an Open House from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Marilyn was born April 1st, 1932, to Otto and Esther (Jensen) Popp, who farmed south of Manning. She was a graduate of Manning High School and attended Iowa State University, with an emphasis in general studies and theatre arts. Marilyn left college to marry Billie Nelson before he deployed to the Korean peninsula for duty with the U.S. Army.

Marilyn was a lifelong resident of Manning where she spent her life caring for her family and her community. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, Eastern Star, and both VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries. She directed and participated in plays with the Manning Theatre Guild and worked with Local Access TV at its inception, logging many hours of interviews with local residents, which she felt was important to preserve for historical posterity. Marilyn had a genuine interest in people, their individual histories and their personal stories. Her pleasant personality and eagerness to learn served her well in those interviews, yet also allowed her to bridge both cultural and age divides.

Marilyn was a life-changing influence upon everyone she encountered, especially young people. She was “Mom” to all her children’s friends, “Grandma” to all her grandchildren’s friends and simply “Marilyn” to several generations of Rec Center kids. He door was always open as her heart. Her family is as large as her love.

Marilyn is survived by her children: David of Manning, Iowa; Todd (Leslie Fylling) of Burbank, South Dakota; Scott of Dubuque, Iowa; Jane (Joseph McNerney) of Spring Hill, Florida; Sara of Mesa, Arizona; Barbara (Doug McCulloch) of Burbank, South Dakota; her brother Larry (Kathy) Popp of Spring Hill, Florida; a sister-in-law Jerrie (Jim) Savery of Carroll, Iowa; two nephews; one niece; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Otto and Esther Popp, her husband Billie Nelson and nephew Marty Popp.