Mary Nuemann

Mary Nuemann, age 86, of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away peace on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. She was born July 13, 1937 to parents Mary Ann Pruitt Neumann (Hunzeker) and Ralph Edward Neumann in Odell, Nebraska.

She graduated from Odell High School in 1955, earned her a college degree from Peru State College in 1961, and eventually attained her PhD from George Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

In February 1964, she married Rolf Arne Nilsson of Tulsa, OK and later moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where she lived, raised two daughters, and taught elementary school. She was retired from the Hawaii State Teacher's Association in 2005. Her greatest pride was working with local school children and directing the Royal Ali'i Bell Choir at Royal Elementary School where she was affectionately known to many as "Doc". She loved directing her Bell Choir in holiday concerts throughout many Waikiki hotels and shopping centers throughout the island. She and the Bell Choir even performed at Disneyland, and traveled to Germany and Austria for the International Music Festival in 1998! During her time in Oahu, she was an avid member of the Kaimuki Bowling team and Waialae Bowl, and enjoyed ceramics, drawing and capturing the beauty of the island through photography.

In 2005, she returned to her home state of Nebraska with her mother and began the restoration process of a 1904 farmhouse in Lincoln. Her creativity and artistry took flight as she guided the process of design and renovation with the help and support of local contractors and builders. She loved the process of building something from the ground up, adn like her passion for the underdog, always looked for opportunities to grow something beautiful from nothing. She exuded strength and optimism, and never shied away from a challenge.

Mary Ellen had a passion for reading, music, movies and TV shows, and animals-specifically her neighborhood cats. She enjoyed the beauty of the natural world and loved going for long drives to take in the magnificence of the world around her. She was never one to hunker down in the middle of a good storm, and chased more than one tornado in her lifetime. She had a penchant for collecting beautiful artwork and artifacts from around the world. Some of her most prized possessions and memories came from her travels through Asia and Europe which inspired a deep love for world cultures and cuisines, and kept her love of learning alive.

Throughout her life she was a fierce supporter of her daughters' and grandchildren's endeavors, and never passed up an opportunity to support her favorite Nebraska Cornhuskers Women's Volleyball team. She will be remembered as a force whose independence and strength was a steadfast as heer deep love of life for learning, and family.

She is survived by daughters Lynn Lalani Nilsson Martinez of Rohnert Park, CA and Lani Lei'n Nilsson Johnston of Hudson, New Hampshire, along with their respective spouses Jaime Martinez and Michael Johnston, 3 grandchildren (Issac, Andrew, and Sarah), and 8 nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents Ralph Edward (1958) and Mary Ann (2008), her step-father Leland Hunzeker, brother Ralph Ronald Neumann (2003) of Florence, Colorado, and brother Gary Lou Neumann (2015) of Blue Springs, Nebraska.

In honor and remembrance of Mary, a celebration of life will be scheduled with details to be determined. Private family inurnment, Memorials in lieu of flowers. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association and PBS

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lincolnfh.com for the Nuemann family.