Marilyn Rose Wilson (née Bruns) passed away on December 19, 2022 at her Fairfield home of 54 years. She was 87.

Born to Clarence and Elizabeth (Schrage) Bruns of St. Henry and Coldwater, Ohio, where Marilyn was raised as the oldest of four children who all survive her: Jerry (Barbara) Bruns of Sarasota, Florida; Diana Otterbacher of Brown Deer, Wisconsin; and Frederick (Barb) Bruns of Vail, Arizona.

Marilyn graduated from Coldwater High School and completed her nursing degree at St. Elizabeth's in Dayton, Ohio. She then earned her BSN from the University of Oregon in Eugene and later added a degree in public health. She took great pride in her six decade-long nursing career.

Marilyn met and married James "Jim" Wilson at the school where they were both employed in Yreka, California in 1963. They were together for sixty years.

She is survived by her husband, five children, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Susan (Rick) Schmitz of Hamburg, Germany (Denise, Lindt and Thomas); Karen Wilson of San Diego; Gregory (Erin) Wilson of Sacramento (Patrick and Cameron (Lilianne)); Geoffrey (Carolina) Wilson of Fairfield (Brendan, Cian, Aodhan and Aisling); and Stephen (Mary) Wilson of San Francisco (Damian). She also has 12 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.

Marilyn was a devoted wife, mother and community builder. She was the school nurse at Holy Spirit School in the 1970s where her children all attended. Together with her husband she was a communion minister and taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine "CCD". She was a cofounder of Birthright of Fairfield in the 1970s. She was on the building committee for Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in the 1980s. She was a lifelong learner, an avid reader, loved music, enjoyed knitting, camping, traveling and a good shot of 20 year old single malt scotch. She was fascinated with her ancestry, quite active in her local genealogy society and regularly volunteered in the Sacramento research library.

Rites of Catholic burial will include viewing, Rosary, and Mass and will be held on Thursday January 12, 2023 beginning at 10:15 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Fairfield. Committal and burial following at St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery in Fairfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Northbay Hospice and Bereavement.