Marian Frances (Nelk) Hawkins, 95, died on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at Azria Health Rose Vista Nursing Home. She was born March 17, 1928, to Bernard and Gertrude (Michael) Nelk outside of Woodbine. She was raised on a farm west of Woodbine, attended country school for eight years and graduated from Woodbine Normal High School in 1945. Marian moved to Omaha and worked for Morton Motors. She returned to Woodbine and was employed by First National Bank as a book-keeper. Marian was united in marriage to Wendell Ray Hawkins on Sept. 6, 1948. They made their home on a farm west of Woodbine where they were blessed with five children. Marian worked for over twenty years at the Woodbine schools in the kitchen where she was the head cook for many years.
Marian was confirmed at the age of fourteen at the Zion Lutheran Church in Magnolia. She later joined the First Christian Church in Woodbine and remained as an active member. She enjoyed bowling and playing cards. Marian and Wendell loved to dance and were members of the Woodbine dance club and the card club. They also loved to play golf. She took pride having a pretty yard and flowers.
Marian was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wendell; infant son, Kenton; sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn (Joe) O’Banion; brothers and sisters-in-law, Cleo (Bill) Hickey, Marabelle (Bernard) VanArsdol, Gale (Ruth Carol) Hawkins, George (Frances) Hawkins, Eloyce (Minnie) Hawkins, Elwin (Lois) Hawkins and Beatrice Hawkins. She is survived by her four children, Sherrie and her husband Harry Tolliver of Omaha, Neb., Michael Hawkins and his wife Susan of Omaha, Wendy and her husband Bill Wollenhaupt of Red Oak and Penny and her husband Kelly Mahlberg of Earling; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Virgil Hawkins of Adams, Wis.; and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the First Christian Church in Woodbine. Beth Fouts presided over the service. The musicians were Nikia McBride and Bob Smith and the musical selections were “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” and “The Lord’s Prayer”. The honorary pallbearers were
Tina Sedlacek, Jill Mrsny, Keyla Churchill, Sara Peterson, Kena Woods, Victoria Mahlberg and Mariah Mahlberg. The pallbearers were Nic Mahlberg, Trent Aistrope, Jason Peterson, Brandon Sedlacek, Troy Sedlacek and Gabe O’Banion. Marian’s final resting place is at the Woodbine Cemetery.
Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
