Marjorie Ruth Nelsen

Marjorie Ruth Nelsen of Orlando, Florida, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 4, 2026, at age 96. Born to Raymond and Bernice Fillier in Rochester, NY., Marge and her sister, Mary Lou (whom she called “her forever best friend”), spent their entire childhood there. Marge was a brilliant student, graduating at the age of 16 from high school. She completed her education at Wheaton College and married her college sweetheart, Lyle Norman Nelsen, in 1951. After being drafted to serve during the Korean War, Lyle and Marge moved to Camp Breckenridge, where their first home was a one-room converted chicken coop. (Marge loved to assure her family that the chickens were penned outside.)

Marge found her professional calling as a third-generation kindergarten teacher, a career spanning 19 years. She received multiple Teacher of the Year honors, teaching at English Estates Elementary and Keeth Elementary Schools. In 1987, she was Teacher of the Year in Seminole County, Florida, representing 3100 teachers. The same year, The US Department of Education awarded Marge the high honor of the Christa McAuliffe National Educator Award.

After retiring from the classroom, Marge continued to invest herself in education. She founded Partners in Learning, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to early childhood teachers, parents, and children. Marge directed and taught in the program for 12 years. She authored Peak with Books, An Early Childhood Resource for Balanced Literacy; two interactive children’s books: Gently into Sleep; A Bedtime Ritual and A Child’s Book of Responsibilities; and Colored with a Positive Crayon: The joy of parenting emotionally healthy children who delight in themselves. Her grandchildren have all used those books to parent their own children.

As important as her professional work was, her love for the Lord’s work took priority. Marge and Lyle were dedicated to helping plant new churches in Orlando: Circle Community Church in the late 1960s, Northland Church in 1972, and Orlando Community Church in 1985. They taught parenting classes to many young families and served as mentors to many.

In addition to these many accomplishments outside the home, she devoted herself to her large family. In later years, when any of them would visit, she would be sure to have their favorite meals, desserts, or snacks ready. She enjoyed hosting family dinners and loved to laugh at family stories, even when she’d heard them again and again. She was a resource for her grandchildren’s parenting questions and prayed for each member of the family individually throughout their lives, even choosing specific Scripture verses for each.

Marge looked forward to her reunion in heaven with her husband of 69 years, Lyle, her parents, Raymond and Bernice Fillier, her sister, Mary Lou Coons, and many other loved ones. She is survived by her sons Steve (Kathy) Nelsen, Dave (Robin, deceased) Nelsen, Gregg (Leslie, deceased) Nelsen; daughter Jan (Mark) Parish; fourteen grandchildren: Karen (Jay) McGinnity and Matt (Heather) Nelsen; Brad (Alyssa) Nelsen, Jared (Anna) Nelsen, Rebecca (J. C.) Berish, and Blake (Sofia) Nelsen; Mark (Charlie) Nelsen, Graham (Sara Beth) Nelsen, Abby Nelsen, Riley (Gigi) Nelsen; Alana (Andrew) Clinkscales, Mckenna Parish, Graysen Parish, and Lynnea Parish; 21 great-grandchildren; multiple nieces and nephews.

Marge’s Celebration of Life service will be held at Orlando Grace Church, 872 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs, Florida, on Saturday, August 29, at 2:00pm, followed by a reception for family and guests. We would be honored by your presence.