Rachel Nielsen

Mrs. Rachel Nielsen, 65  was called home by her lord and savior  Thursday, March 20, 2014, at her home in Herrin, Illinois with her family by her side.She was born Sunday, November 7, 1948 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Ray and Rachel (Cobb) Mankin. She was blessed with a Christian family and raised in Terre Haute First Baptist Church. She was the wife of Chris Nielson for 27 years and he survives of Herrin. Also surviving is their daughter Rachel Elizabeth (Liz) Nielsen of Chicago, 1 brother K.H. Mankin of Gillette, WY, 3 nephews, 1 niece, 3 aunts and many cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her precious grandma Cobb, her brother and hero, Steve Lee Mankin, Sr. and her parents-in-law Eugene and Mildred Nielsen.She was a member of Hurricane Memorial Baptist Church and the Daughters of the American Revolution. While living in Southern Illinois, she worked 10 years at Marion Memorial Hospital and retired from Herrin Unit #4 Northside School in 2010 after 16 years. Memorial donations can be made to Rachel R. Nielsen Engineering Scholarship Fund, Rend Lake College Foundation, 468 North Ken Gray Parkway, Ina, Illinois. A funeral service will be at 11:00 AM on Monday at Van Natta Funeral Home located at 427 South Park Avenue  Herrin, Illinois 62948 with the Rev Duane Faulkenberry officiating. Interment will be in Herrin City Cemetery, Herrin, IL.The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at Van Natta Funeral Home, 427 South Park Avenue , Herrin, Illinois.Online condolences may be made to the family at vannattafuneralhome.com