Juanita Laura Nielsen, 75

A memorial visitation and prayer service for Juanita Laura Nielsen, 75, of Battlefield, were held March 6, 2020, at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home in Springfield. Mrs. Neilsen died March 3 in Springfield.

She was born June 28, 1944, in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Fred and Marie Mamer. She attended Sibley High School in West Saint Paul. She was a recent resident of Battlefield but spent many years in Gainesville.

On July 30, 1966, she married David Nielsen, the love of her life. 

She was a strong, outgoing, energetic woman who had a great sense of humor and who loved to punctuate texts to her loved ones with kissy-face emojis. She will be deeply missed; she was loved beyond measure.

She is survived by her daughter, Laura Rankin and husband Tom; her son John Nielsen and his wife Mindy; four beautiful grandchildren: Kylie Hoelcher, Ben Rankin, Catie Rankin and Gabby Nielsen; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her dear dog, Chloe.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Fred and Marie Mamer, and her sister Paulette Kistler.

A private family burial will be held at a later date at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield.

Arrangements by Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, DeGraffenreid-Wood-Crematory, Springfield.