1943
Mary
2025
Mary Jo Nielsen
July 20, 1943 — May 18, 2025
Mary Jo “Fischer” Nielsen, 81, was born on July 20, 1943, at St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, Minnesota, the only child of Carl Synesius Fischer and Olive Katheryn “Murphy” Fischer.
She was baptized into the Christian faith at home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, on August 19, 1943, by Rev. John Shoemaker. Mary Jo affirmed her faith through adult confirmation on January 21, 1959, at Zion Lutheran Church, Sauk Centre, Minnesota, by Rev. Harry Sporleder. She graduated from Sauk Centre High School in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, on June 1, 1961.
She attended St. Cloud State College and Concordia College in Minnesota, during the 1960s. While attending Concordia College, Mary Jo attended Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she met her future husband, companion, and friend, Herman Theodore Nielsen. Mary Jo and Herman were united in Holy Marriage on August 5, 1967, at Mary Jo’s home church, Zion Lutheran Church, Sauk Centre, Minnesota, by G. B. Eschenbacher. God blessed them with over 37 years of marriage and the gift of two children—a son, James Patrick (Caroline), and a daughter, Julie Kay (Randy), and two grandchildren, Sophia and Andrew.
Herman and Mary Jo transferred their membership to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. While in Minnesota, Mary Jo volunteered at Unity Hospital in Fridley, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and Christian Day School. After moving to Hanover Park, Illinois, in 1989, Herman and Mary Jo transferred their church membership to Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle, Illinois. Mary Jo volunteered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle.
After the passing of her beloved husband in 2004, Mary Jo relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she made her home at St. James Place Retirement Community.
Mary Jo was a devoted homemaker, deeply committed to her faith, family, and church. Throughout her life, she found joy in simple pleasures and shared experiences—bowling in a weekly league, singing in the church choir, attending Bible study, volunteering at church, playing the saxophone, and enjoying music and Baton Rouge Symphony concerts. She especially enjoyed Snazzy Singers and Bingo with her fellow residents at St. James Place.
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 18, 2025, after a brief illness, Mary Jo peacefully joined the Heavenly Choir, surrounded by her loving children, James and Julie. She lived a life rooted in faith, devoted to Christ, and guided by the teachings of the Holy Bible. She found comfort in verse John 14:27 , “Peace I leave with you; may peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
While we grieve her passing, we find solace knowing one day we will be reunited in God’s eternal Kingdom. A special thank you to the dedicated staff at St. James Place Baton Rouge for the care and support they provided to Mary Jo during her 20-year residency.
Visitation Wednesday, May 28, 11:00am - 11:30am at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory 333 S. Roselle Road (1/2 mile South of Irving Park Road) Roselle. Graveside service to follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Jo’s memory may be made to Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota .
She was baptized into the Christian faith at home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, on August 19, 1943, by Rev. John Shoemaker. Mary Jo affirmed her faith through adult confirmation on January 21, 1959, at Zion Lutheran Church, Sauk Centre, Minnesota, by Rev. Harry Sporleder. She graduated from Sauk Centre High School in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, on June 1, 1961.
She attended St. Cloud State College and Concordia College in Minnesota, during the 1960s. While attending Concordia College, Mary Jo attended Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she met her future husband, companion, and friend, Herman Theodore Nielsen. Mary Jo and Herman were united in Holy Marriage on August 5, 1967, at Mary Jo’s home church, Zion Lutheran Church, Sauk Centre, Minnesota, by G. B. Eschenbacher. God blessed them with over 37 years of marriage and the gift of two children—a son, James Patrick (Caroline), and a daughter, Julie Kay (Randy), and two grandchildren, Sophia and Andrew.
Herman and Mary Jo transferred their membership to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. While in Minnesota, Mary Jo volunteered at Unity Hospital in Fridley, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and Christian Day School. After moving to Hanover Park, Illinois, in 1989, Herman and Mary Jo transferred their church membership to Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle, Illinois. Mary Jo volunteered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Roselle.
After the passing of her beloved husband in 2004, Mary Jo relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she made her home at St. James Place Retirement Community.
Mary Jo was a devoted homemaker, deeply committed to her faith, family, and church. Throughout her life, she found joy in simple pleasures and shared experiences—bowling in a weekly league, singing in the church choir, attending Bible study, volunteering at church, playing the saxophone, and enjoying music and Baton Rouge Symphony concerts. She especially enjoyed Snazzy Singers and Bingo with her fellow residents at St. James Place.
On the afternoon of Sunday, May 18, 2025, after a brief illness, Mary Jo peacefully joined the Heavenly Choir, surrounded by her loving children, James and Julie. She lived a life rooted in faith, devoted to Christ, and guided by the teachings of the Holy Bible. She found comfort in verse John 14:27 , “Peace I leave with you; may peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
While we grieve her passing, we find solace knowing one day we will be reunited in God’s eternal Kingdom. A special thank you to the dedicated staff at St. James Place Baton Rouge for the care and support they provided to Mary Jo during her 20-year residency.
Visitation Wednesday, May 28, 11:00am - 11:30am at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory 333 S. Roselle Road (1/2 mile South of Irving Park Road) Roselle. Graveside service to follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Jo’s memory may be made to Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Jo Nielsen, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory, Roselle
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors