Marjorie Schwalen Nelson

Obituary Marjorie Schwalen Nelson Native of Tacoma was born May 19, 1920 at St. Joseph Hospital, to Bernard and Ursula Schwalen. She was a lifelong resident of Tacoma. Marjorie attended St. Patrick's Grade School, graduated from Stadium High School in 1937 and attended University of Washington where she was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority. She was a secretary at Defiance Lumber Company where she met her future husband, Merritt D. Nelson, and after a three year courtship they were married at St. Patrick Church July 25, 1942. While Merritt was in the service she was able to join him in various military sites in the U.S. After the war Marjorie and Merritt settled permanently in Tacoma and later Gig Harbor where they raised four children. Her chief activities in those years centered on her children, and her husband's business. She was a member of St. Patrick's Mothers Club, Philomathea and Orthopedic Guild, St. Patrick, St. Nicholas and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Churches. She also was a lifelong member of the Rabbit Club. Later her interests centered around golf at Fircrest Golf Course, Sitz Mark Ski Lodge at Crystal Mountain, traveling throughout Europe and Panama Canal, a vacation home on Lake Tanwax in Eatonville and many retirement winters spent with friends at Woodhaven Country Club in Palm Desert. Marjorie is survived by her husband, Merritt, their four children, Stephanie (Ted), Bruce of San Francisco, Lee (Leslie) of Hailey, Idaho and Keith (Mary Ellen) of Eugene, Oregon; grandsons, Michael and Leif Jensen and Alex Nelson, great-grandson Liam Jensen and sister, Betty Onstad of Tacoma. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 11:00 am at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.