Marjorie Joan Manglitz

Marjorie Joan Welsch Manglitz, age 94, passed away September 11, 2024 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Born June 11, 1930 to Harry George and Irma (Belka) Welsch, she was raised on a farm south of Milford, NE and always seemed quite proud of growing up during the depression and dust bowl years while helping her father on the farm. She wrote several short stories on this subject that were published in LifeLines Magazine. This early upbringing helped create a set of values that she lived by her entire life.

Marj graduated from Crete High School in 1947, attended Doane College 1947-1949, and then in 1951 received a B.S. degree in Religious Education from Schauffler College in Cleveland, Ohio. Her first job was in Christian Education with a church in Takoma Park, MD – a long way from the farm in Nebraska. It was here that she met George Manglitz and they were married at West Blue Church outside of Milford, NE on October 20, 1953. They then went where George’s job as a research entomologist with the USDA, took them – first to Minot, ND, then Tifton, GA, Beltsville, MD and finally to Lincoln, NE, where they stayed. Along the way, they raised five children and worked together for many charitable organizations, focusing on Peace and Justice and World Hunger. Marj was especially passionate about human rights for all and was very active as the coordinator of the Lincoln and State chapters of the United Nations Association. She received two national awards presented by the UNA. She became well known in Lincoln through displays at events sponsored by local organizations belonging to the UNA Council of Organizations. These displays helped to keep awareness of UN work and missions alive in Lincoln.

She was instrumental in working with Elena Dodd, a recreator of Eleanor Roosevelt in her role as chair of the commission that created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Marj worked tirelessly to get these appearances scheduled at schools, churches and community events. Many a school child learned about the work of the United Nations through Dodd’s presentations. Marj had an Eleanor Roosevelt quote on all of her emails that said: “It is not only in war . . .that we fight for freedom. One works for freedom in personal contacts and in many phases of civilian life. At all times, day by day, we have to continue working for freedom of religion freedom of speech and freedom from want . . . for these are things that must be gained in peace as well as in war.” She was a firm believer in the Golden Rule - the principle of treating others as one would want to be treated by them.

Marj was a professional volunteer, who not only talked about making the world a better place, but put her words into action. She traveled to Nicaragua with “Witness For Peace” in 1984. She was active in Habitat for Humanity, Amnesty International, worked as a Tabitha hospice volunteer, helped staff the Personal Crisis telephone line, served as President of Church Women United, she was active in Bread for the World, League of Women Voters, Nebraskans for Peace, many other peace-focused organizations and was always an involved member in the churches she belonged to.

She and George were also quite active with the Agriculture School for Amyra Indian Youth in Chile (Kusayapu), where they went four times with a Methodist mission group. In 1996, after only 30 minutes of bus driver instruction, they drove a donated 64 passenger school bus from Lincoln, Nebraska to the Port of Miami, Florida, where it was loaded onto a freighter ship to be taken to the agriculture school in Chile.

Marj is survived by her five children, Ruth (Steve-deceased) Carr, Harry Manglitz, Paul and Patti (Patt) Manglitz, Mary and Bryan Heusinkvelt and Joel and Julia (Mathias) Manglitz; nine grandchildren: Michelle and Ryan Fandrich, Angella and Drew Wright, Megan and Rick Novotny, Joseph and Brianne (Behrends) Manglitz, Adam Manglitz, Peter and Molly (Lenihan) Heusinkvelt, Andrew (and soon to be Andrea Schiller) Heusinkvelt, Benjamin and Stacy (Thiel) Heusinkvelt and Amy Heusinkvelt and Evan Hansmeier;

seven great-grandchildren: Tanner and Brinley Fandrich; Mace Wright; William, Weston and Harper Manglitz; and Leah Heusinkvelt.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 19, 10:30 AM at Northeast UCC, located at 6300 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in Marj’s memory.