Marilyn D. Johnston

Marilyn D. Johnston, 83, of Davenport passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. Funeral services will be at 2:30 on Friday, May 12, 2017 in the Runge Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm on Friday at the mortuary. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, American Red Cross, Country Manor Memory Care or Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rungemortuary.com. Marilyn was born November 3, 1933 in Davenport, the youngest of three children born to William and Ella (Schaeb) Gravert. She graduated from Davenport High School on June 10, 1952. Marilyn was united in marriage to Jens N. Nielsen, Jr on July 19, 1952. They had three children and were married for 30 years. Jens passed away on September 29, 1982, just two months after their anniversary. Jens and Marilyn started their own family businesses, Five Cities Tool Service, Inc. and Five Cities Diesel Service. Their children continued in the business until the closing on June 30, 1999. She remarried Theodore “Ted” Johnston on September 10, 1983. He and his business partner founded the former IA-IL Thermal Insulation Co. She worked at the old Woolworth store during her senior year of high school. In early years she enjoyed bowling, golfing, playing bunco and farkle. On September 24, 1981 she shot a hole-in-on on the 9th hole of the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Course. She was a member of St. Marks Evangelical Lutheran Church, Davenport and a volunteer at the American Red Cross in Moline, IL. Marilyn was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. Survivors include one daughter, Gail (Randy) Wood; two sons, Mike Nielsen and Sam (Robin) Nielsen; four grandchildren: Kate and John Nielsen, Andrew (Kara) and Holly Wood; one great grandchild, Cole Carpenter; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husbands she was preceded in death by her brother, Russell Gravert and sister, Norma Terry. Special heartfelt thanks to all of the wonderful care givers who gave our mother loving care and compassion during the last years of her life: Mike Nielsen, Robin Koupal, Tiffanie Hannssen, staff at Country Manor Memory Care and the nursing staff at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House.