Esther M. Nielsen passed away July 26, 2026. She was born on April 1, 1928, to John and Therodora (Novak) Furmanski in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. She moved to Garfield Table, Nebraska, in March 1940 and attended Garfield Grade School and Gandy High School. She moved to Arnold, Nebraska, in 1947 and married Donald E. Nielsen on October 29, 1949. They then moved to Stapleton and later North Platte, Nebraska. She moved to Laramie, Wyoming in 1960, and was employed by the Albany County School District in the high school hot lunch program, retiring after 22 years of service.
Esther enjoyed quilting, cooking for her family, playing cards and going for walks. She was a member of the altar society at St. Laurence O’Toole Catholic Church.
Esther is survived by son Gary Nielsen and daughter Carolyn Herman, both from Laramie, Wyoming; son Alan (P.Z.) Nielsen of Barnes, Wisconsin; and son Daniel of Fruita, Colorado. She is also survived by her grandchildren David, Kristin, Brittany, Elise, Kristian, Michael and Nicole; Her great- grandchildren, Kayleigh, Zachary, Justin, Keaton, Adley, Niko and Axel; and her younger sister Mary Furmanski-Fogel, who lives in Geneva, Nebraska.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Robert, Clement, Genevieve and John Jr.
A Memorial service will be held at Mongomery-Stryker Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 11th at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment will follow at Greenhill Cemetery in Laramie, Wyoming.