Marilyn Jackson was born December 30, 1948 to parents Bart and Vada Rush of rural Anselmo. She attended Anselmo and Windy Point grade schools and graduated with the Merna class of 1967. Marilyn continued her education in Lincoln attending Bryan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and earned a Bachelor Degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She began her nursing career in Broken Bow as a nurse in the ER. She went on to have several positions in nursing including a travel nurse, worked in hospice services and was Director of Nursing at Ambassador Health for over 20 years and finished her career as a Consultant to the State of NE in Health and Human Services until her retirement.
Soon after Kenny Jackson, son of Kenneth and Pauline Jackson of Merna, was honorably discharged from the US Army stationed in Viet Nam, he and Marilyn were married on March 15, 1969. The couple were married 52 years and had two sons, Jeff and Jason.
Marilyn was an avid reader and loved to travel. She and Kenny traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Ireland and Italy. They were big Husker fans and enjoyed music and dancing.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Kenny and brothers: Byron, Bruce and Bradley Left to mourn her passing are sons; Jeff and Valerie, Jason and Dawn, sisters Cheryl Barrett-Phillips , Debbie and Joe Smith,brother-in-law George and Pat Jackson, along with grandchildren, great-grand children, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends
Celebration of Life was held October 23, 2025 at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel in Lincoln and burial services followed in Omaha National Cemetery where Marilyn was buried next her husband, Kenny.
