Marilyn Louise Jensen

Marilyn Louise Jensen 73, of Walton, Nebraska passed peacefully in her home after a lengthy illness with her loving husband and son at her side on Easter Sunday April 5th, 2026. Marilyn was born to Delbert Lloyd and Pearl Gertrude (Warner) Mecum in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 22, 1952. Delbert was an iron worker and the family moved to numerous places during Marilyn's childhood including Sacramento, California; Reno, Nevada; and back to Lincoln, Nebraska; ending up in Omaha, Nebraska where Marilyn attended Omaha South High School. Marilyn went to work for Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company starting in Claims. Marilyn took computer programming classes on the side and worked her way up the ladder at Mutual where after 30+ years she retired as a Senior Systems Analyst in Information Systems. On October 21, 2001, Marilyn married Daniel Eugene Jensen of Omaha, Nebraska at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. They lived in Omaha until February 2014, when they moved to a small acreage east of Lincoln, Nebraska to be close to Marilyn's son and grandchildren.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Stephen Mecum. She is survived by her remaining siblings, Brenda Bassett of La Vista, Nebraska; Cheryl Ozuna of Dunlap, Tennessee; and Wesley Day of Kitchener, Ontario Canada. She is also survived by her husband, Daniel Jensen of Walton, Nebraska; son Donald Sorenson of Hickman, Nebraska; stepson Travis Jensen of St Paul, Minnesota; and stepdaughter Kelsey Phippen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; as well as her eight grandchildren, Tyler Sorenson, Shawn Sorenson, and Megan Sorenson all of Lincoln, Nebraska; Bianca Jukic of Duluth, Minnesota; Hayden Phippen of Omaha, Nebraska; and Peyton, Bronx and Kollyns Phippen all of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Marilyn was a very loving and generous mother, grandmother, friend, and neighbor. She will be missed by all whose lives she has touched. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the American Cancer Society.

Marilyn, known by most as Mare, or Mare Mare to her nieces and nephews because they had trouble pronouncing Marilyn as youngsters, was not a big social media contributor, but the few friends she did follow and share posts with were very dear to her. Family though is what she held closest to her heart. When Donny "finally" got married and started a family, Mare was the proudest and happiest grandmother around.

Marilyn loved her music, listening and enjoying many genres including soul, country, pop, power ballads, and soft & classic rock. Mare also enjoyed bowling, often participating in multiple leagues while maintaining a 160-ish average. As an adult, Marilyn took up running, often placing and even winning a couple 5K events in her age group. Mare also enjoyed slot machines and going to the casino. Dan put a couple slots in their spare bedroom for her to enjoy. Lake Tahoe was chosen as the wedding destination shortly after 9/11, and the wedding was celebrated with close family.

When she was 16, Mare was involved in a serious accident, being struck by a truck leaving her with punctured lungs and broken ribs, collarbone and pelvis. It is believed this accident contributed to physical ailments that affected and limited her later in life. One of her favorite pastimes was sitting out on the deck watching people and cars go by on the road behind the house. When Dan moved her to the "boonies" to be closer to her grandchildren, she traded watching people for the abundant wildlife on their new property. Dan and Mare often joked that their entertainment budget consisted of critter feed for the deer feeder, suet blocks, and nectar for all their many feathered friends. Due to the physical limitations Mare developed, she wasn't able to travel a lot in her later years. She did though enjoy a trip to Albuquerque for Dan's mother Carole's surprise 70th birthday party, a trip to Disney World with her grandkids, and going to Canada and Niagara Falls with sister Brenda for brother Wes and Colleen's wedding. The last trips she made were to CounciI Bluffs for granddaughter Kollyns Christmas and 3rd Birthday. I know these trips brought her much joy and happiness as she talked about them often.

Mare was a fighter. She survived both breast and lung cancer. When she got sick again this last Christmas, she fought again, working super hard at Madonna rehab to get well enough to come home. When her body couldn't fight anymore, she went peacefully, listening to some of her favorite albums. I know she is watching us, not wanting us to be sad, but wanting us to remember and cherish all the wonderful memories and unconditional love she shared with everyone.

Visitation will be held at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 5701 Center St, Omaha, Nebraska 68106, on April 14, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will be held at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 5701 Center St, Omaha, Nebraska 68106, on April 15, 2026, at 1:00 pm, with entombment to follow in the Westlawn-Hillcrest Mausoleum. A reception will follow the entombment in the Westlawn-Hillcrest Reception Room.