Marian E. Nye

Marian Elvera (Zeno) Nye, 94, of Escanaba, passed away on April 16, 2020 at Christian Park Village in Escanaba, after residing there for over four years. Marian was born February 2, 1926 in Cloquet, MN to J. Clarence and Olga (Anderson) Zeno. She graduated from Escanaba High School in 1944 and attended Evanston Collegiate Institute (now known as Kendall College) in Evanston, IL, completing an executive secretary program. While in school, she was also employed by the Methodist Publishing House of Chicago. Marian married Harold “Heg” John Nye on May 9, 1953 at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Escanaba. At the time of their wedding, Marian was employed in the office of the Birds Eye Veneer Co., where she worked until her retirement. She could often be found on Wednesday evenings at the city band concerts, since Heg played saxophone in the band. The couple also enjoyed spending time at their trailer on the Stonington Peninsula. 

Marian enjoyed visiting her nieces Carole (Gary) Pierce in Texas and Susan (Bob) McDonald in Arizona, and her nephew John (Rhoda) Woodard in Raymond, Mississippi. She even traveled with the McDonalds to England and France, where highlights of her trip included having lunch in the Eiffel Tower and being in the countries where her brother had served in World War II. She also liked gardening and loved her canine companions, Tigger, Tarball, and Tuffy. Marian was a devoted member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Escanaba and the Bethany Gems Circle, as well as the church quilters. 

She is survived by many nieces and nephews, including Loreene Zeno Koskey of Marquette, Susan McDonald and Bruce Skippar of Arizona, Carole Pierce of Texas, Marne Roche of Pennsylvania, and Vivian Frossard and Robert Woodard of Escanaba, and godson, Ernie Burch of Escanaba. 

Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Nye on February 8, 1990; brother, Clarence E. Zeno in 2016, as well as sisters-in-law, Lucille Zeno and Dorothy Zeno; brothers-in-law, Herman (Ingeborg “Birgit”) Nye, George Nye, and Arthur (Mildred) Nye; sisters-in-law Naomi (Ben) Woodard, Viola Nye, Julia (Frank) McClatchey, Evelyn (Albert) Sherman, Elsie (Samuel “Paul”) Roark and Lorayne (Edwin) Skippar; her parents; parents-in-law, Herman and Mary (Granlund) Nye; and several nieces and nephews, including Ward T. Zeno, David Skippar, Wally and Warren Nye, and Phyllis Woodard. 

Private family visitation and funeral services will be held at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba with Rev. Terry Frankenstein of Bethany Lutheran Church officiating. Entombment will take place in the Gardens of Rest Mausoleum. A public memorial service will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church at later date. If you wish to consider a memorial gift in Marian’s memory, please direct it to Bethany Lutheran Church, 202 S. 11th St., Escanaba, MI 49829. Marian’s family cannot thank the wonderful staff of Christian Park Village enough for their compassionate and loving care of her. 

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