Nancy Lee Nilsen

Nancy is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Dan Nilsen. She is also survived by her 3 children; son, James Nilsen (Lisa Hernandez Nilsen), daughter, Wendy (Nilsen) Brown, and son, Timothy Nilsen (Cathleen Sullivan Nilsen). Also her grandchildren, Timothy Nilsen Jr., Brandalyn (Nilsen) Esquivel, Morris Luyben, Jr., Jamie Luyben Wolfelt, Casey Luyben, and Quinn Avello ; and 3 great grandchildren. She is survived by her brother Bill Erwin (Janie Phillis Erwin), her sister Linda Erwin- Muehlstedt, and her sister in law Glee Ann Nilsen Miller (Terry Miller).

Nancy was born in Pasadena California in 1942. Her parents were Charles Brantley Erwin and Oleta Humphrey Erwin, who are both deceased. She had 5 siblings. Don Wilkins (deceased), Joann Place (deceased), Bill Erwin (Janie Phillis Erwin), Linda Erwin-Muehlstedt, and Jim Erwin (deceased). She grew up in Lakewood, California, and attended Bancroft Middle School, and Lakewood High School.

As a teenager, Nancy would babysit a few of the children in her neighborhood, and she also loved to babysit her nieces and nephews, the children of her older sister Joann. Her natural love for children prepared her for motherhood when she met the love of her life Dan Nilsen. They were high school sweethearts who attended Lakewood High School in Lakewood California. Nancy graduated in 1960, and Dan in 1958. Both were very active in the Lakewood High Alumni committee in their latter years.

She and Dan married and began their family very soon after high school, in Lakewood, California, where they lived from 1960 to 1967. They moved to Louisiana in 1967, when her husband's employer (North American Rockwell) transferred him to the Mississippi test facility to work and support various NASA projects, including the Saturn II, Apollo 11, and others. They made their home in Slidell, Louisiana until 1971 when they moved back to California. From 1971 to 1986 they lived in Cerritos, California where they continued to raise their family. They enjoyed family activities such as weekend camping trips, attending sports events, and various extra-curricular activities with their children, as well as spending time with their close friends and neighbors.

As "Empty Nesters" in 1986, Nancy and Dan moved to Simi Valley where they lived for 5 years until they bought a new home and moved to Cypress, California in 1991. After Dan retired in 1995, they had more time to travel. Over the years they traveled quite a lot... taking cruises to several of their favorite destinations, Hawaii (x12), Japan, Mexico (x6), Alaska (x3), Panama Canal (x3), Australia, Tahiti (x2), Italy, England, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Caribbean (x5), and more. Also, several bus tours in the U.K and Europe. They often traveled with close friends and family members.

During her "down time" when not traveling, Nancy had many friends who she enjoyed spending time with. She was involved in many social activities with her dear friends, including Alumni committee, Bunco, Red Hat, Social media, Facebooking, and Charities such as retired Vets, and more. She was creative and artistic. She enjoyed crafting, making jewelry, she loved to cook and was very skilled at sewing. Nancy made all her children's clothing when they were young, including her own. Nancy was a devoted homemaker, and took pride in her beautiful home. She loved and welcomed the company of her family, her husband and their cherished friends who were more like family than friends.

Although she was taken from us too soon, at age 79, Nancy lived a very good life, and we were blessed to have her for all the years that we did. We love her immensly and will keep all those beautiful memories close to our hearts forever.

A Chapel Memorial service followed by a Celebration of Life reception for Nancy, will be held on Thursday, September 9th, 2021, beginning at 3:30pm at Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary, 14801 Beach Blvd., Westminster, CA. Guests are welcome to join the family for a "Celebration of Life" reception, directly following the service. Nancy especially loved Hawaii...Aloha style attire would be most welcome.