Marjorie J. Nielsen

Marjorie June Nielsen, age 93, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and formerly of Glidden, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at Western Home in Cedar Falls.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, July 27, 2026 at the Glidden United Methodist Church in Glidden with Pastor Ben Carter-Allen officiating. Casket bearers will be Justin Kazynski, Tanner Tryon, Travis Tryon, Loren Danner, Bill Higgins, Jamie Petersen, and Dave McNamara. Honorary casket bearers will be her great-grandchildren: Cohen Kofta, Kiya Lamberson, Portland Tryon, Ace Lamberson, Brynlee Tryon, Olivia Kazynski, Savvy Tryon, Kollyns Kofta, and Axel Tryon. Burial will be in the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery near Glidden.

Visitation will be held at the Glidden United Methodist Church on Monday morning from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Carroll County 4-H, or St. Anthony Hospice.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Glidden and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Marjorie was born to farm country, but never to a narrow life. She was born on June 7, 1933 on her family’s farm in Carroll County, she was the daughter of Raymond and Bertha (Fobes) Graves. An exceptional student, she graduated as valedictorian of the Glidden High School Class of 1950. She continued her education at Simpson College of Indianola, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1954 and became a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

After college, Marjorie taught home economics at Bayard High School for two years. On June 5, 1955, she married Darrell T. Nielsen, and together they returned to the Graves family farm. There, Marjorie and Darrell made their life as farmers, sharing not only a home and a family, but the daily work, judgement and responsibility that farming required. They raised their daughters, Marjean and Diane, in the life they built side by side.

Her contributions extended well beyond the farm. Marjorie served as president of the Carroll County Home Economics Extension Committee and as a member of the Carroll County Extension Council. She was named Carroll County Homemaker in 1964 and devoted many years to the 4-H program as a leader and judge at both the county and state levels. She received multiple 4-H Clover Awards in recognition of her leadership and service to Carroll County’s young people.

A longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Glidden, Marjorie also chaired United Methodist Women, volunteered with St. Anthony Regional Hospital Auxiliary, and gave her time at local voting polls. In 2023, as she celebrated her 90th birthday, she became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution – another meaningful distinction in a life already full of them.

In addition to her dedication to the community, Marjorie had passions and hobbies that reflected both her creativity and her care. She quilted, gardened, and canned the harvest she had grown, she followed her grandchildren’s activities, and made the best sugar cookies.

Marjorie is survived by her daughter Diane Kazynski (David) of Dike, Iowa; her grandchildren: Tanner Tryon (Rachel) of Tipton, Iowa, Justin Kazynski (Ashley) of Dallas, Texas, Mandy Lamberson (Josh) of Warrensburg, Missouri, Travis Tryon (Lorrie) of Waukee, Iowa, and Shannon Kofta (Michael) of Cedar Falls, Iowa; her great-grandchildren: Cohen Kofta, Kiya Lamberson, Portland Tryon, Ace Lamberson, Brynlee Tryon, Olivia Kazynski, Kollyns, Kofta, Savvy Tryon, and Axel Tryon; her sisters-in-law, Annie Vincent (Jerry) of Jefferson, Iowa, and Judy Marques (Dave) of Livermore, Colorado; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Darrell Nielsen; her daughter Marjean Reed; her parents Raymond and Bertha Graves; and her parents-in-law Rasmus and Louise Nielsen.

Marjorie leaves behind more than a record of accomplishments. She leaves the example of a woman who was educated and hardworking, independent and devoted, and willing to place her own hands into the work of building a family, a farm, and a community.