Marilyn Nelson

Marilyn (Ravenhill) Nelson, 85, of Lake Mills and formerly Oconto Falls, passed away peacefully at her home on Dec. 17, 2024. Marilyn was born in Watertown on Nov. 6, 1939, to Carl and Fern (Sander) Ravenhill and grew up in Lake Mills, graduating from Lake Mills High School in 1957. She attended college at UW-Madison, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in elementary education and completed coursework toward a Ph.D. in educational psychology. Later in life, she earned a master’s degree in management from Cardinal Stritch College. Marilyn moved to Oconto Falls in 1978, where she served for over 30 years as school psychologist and director of special education for the Oconto Falls School District. After retirement, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of living on her grandparents’ farm in Lake Mills where she had spent so much of her childhood. She restored the outbuildings and placed the Sander Farm in a land conservation easement to protect it from future development. Marilyn devoted her entire life to helping any person or animal who needed help. While raising her children, she always had an “open door”’ policy. Everyone was welcome in her home any day or time. She provided food, a safe place to hang out and probably a little advice to dozens of her children’s friends throughout the years. She provided a wonderful home for every stray animal that came along. Her beloved Sander Farm provides a natural, protected habitat for deer, foxes, raccoons, possums, birds and other wildlife that she enjoyed feeding and watching daily. Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents and her ex-husband, Kent Nelson. She is survived by her three children, Ingrid Nelson (David Pietz) of Waterloo, Ian Nelson (Alecia Altstaetter) of Whitefish Bay and Ellen (Scott) Everson of Evansville; and six grandchildren, Jonah, Hayden, Hollis and Abram Nelson, and Andrew and Wesley Everson. Per Marilyn’s request, no formal services will be held. Cremation services will be handled by the Claussen Funeral Home of Lake Mills. The family would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the staff at Rainbow Hospice, especially Tricia and Nicole, and our in-home caregivers, Melissa Norton and Skyla Goodearle. With their support, Marilyn was able to remain at home on the farm, which was her wish. Memorials may be made to Rainbow Hospice of Jefferson, Wisconsin; Best Friends Animal Society; the ASPCA; or your local humane society. http://www.claussenfuneralhome.com