Marian Adeline (Nystrom) Westlund, age 88, of Whitehall, died peacefully on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 with her family by her side in the Gundersen Health System in LaCrosse.

Marian was born on January 10, 1925 in Mason, Wisconsin, the fourth child of Herbert and Margaret (Olson) Nystrom. Marian grew up with four brothers, Howard, Willard, Herb, and Jack and five sisters, Beatrice, Lois, Maxine, Jane and Joan. She graduated from Ashland High School in 1943.

Marian married Elmer L. Westlund on July 21, 1945 in Mason, WI beginning a journey that would see them faithfully committed to one another for 68 years. Together they raised two children, a son, James (Rita) Westlund of Louisville, Kentucky and a daughter, Wendy (John) Molis of Whitehall, Wisconsin.
Marian and Elmer raised their children in Grand View, Wisconsin, living there for some 56 years. In 2010, Marian and Elmer moved to Whitehall, Wisconsin to be closer to family.

Marian was motivated by her Christian faith. She used the time God gave her here on earth to serve others, teaching Sunday School and being deeply involved in women's ministry at her church as well as many community activities. Through all of this she was well known as a prayer warrior for others. When age and bodily strength limited her ability to physically serve, she continued to use prayer as her avenue of service.

Marian is survived by her husband Elmer and children James and Wendy. There are three grand children, Justin Westlund, son of James and Rita Westlund, and Jason and Nicole, children of Wendy and John Molis. There are also 5 great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Karli Molis, daughters of Jason and Melissa Molis of Whitehall, and Grant, Carter and Madison Goplin, children of Nicole and Robert Goplin of Green Bay; four sisters, Maxine Sawyer, Lois (Bob) Cleveland, Jane Nordin and Joan Koch.

In addition to her parents, Marian was preceded in death by her four brothers and her sister, Beatrice Landman.

Services will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. in the Bethany Baptist Church with burial in the Mason Cemetery both in Mason, WI. Pastor John Dudley will officiate. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 12:30 P.M.

The Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall, WI is assisting the family arrangements.