Mary Nilles, age 83, of Granville, IA, and Escondido, CA, passed away Sunday, April 27, 2025, at her home in Granville.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday May 2, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville, with Father Daniel Greving officiating and Deacon Dan Goebel assisting. Visitation with family present will be Thursday from 4-6 p.m., rosary 5 p.m. all at the church. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service on Friday. Burial will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday May 3, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Granville. Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument of Remsen, Iowa. Condolences may be sent online to www.fischfh.com

Mary Jean Paulsen was born October 30, 1941 at the family farm outside of Paullina, the daughter of Wilken and Florence (Roethler) Paulsen. She was raised near Granville and attended St. Joseph Catholic School, graduating in 1960.

On Dec. 30, 1961 she married James Theodore Nilles at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville. The couple made their home in Escondido, CA where Mary worked at various schools as a teacher’s assistant. In their later years the couple became snow-birds returning to Granville in the summers. James passed away August 3, 2019.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville and the Church of the Resurrection in Escondido, CA.

She had a great love of the Lord and enjoyed going to bible study. She also enjoyed gardening, baking and playing pinochle. She loved time with her family and grandchildren. She was the best mom, grandma, and aunt and was loved by all and absolutely adored by her husband.

Survivors include her children, Kevin Nilles of Granville, IA, Eric Nilles of Escondido, CA and Renee (Dale) Franklin of Granville, IA; 5 grandchildren, Crystal, Michaela, Genevieve, Noah and Brianna ; 4 great-grandchildren; Haley, Winifred, Birdy and Maxine, one brother, Ron (Cheryl) Paulsen of Remsen, IA,; two sisters, Linda (Tom) Linden of Weslaco, TX, Jan (John) Brooks of Weslaco, TX. her in-laws, Daniel (Sandi) Nilles of Le Mars, IA, Jan Klein of Le Mars, IA, Diane (Glenn) Brown of Sioux Falls, SD, Nancy Brown of Brandon, SD, Gene (Myrna) Nilles of Sioux Falls, SD, Marilyn Paulsen of Granville, IA, and Ron Hunter of Le Mars, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Wilken (Florence) Paulsen; her husband James Theodore Nilles; one son, James Bryan Nilles; three brothers, Steve, Richard and Jimmy (in infancy); one sister, Rose Ann (in infancy); brothers-in-law, Thomas Nilles, Elmer Klein and Charlie Brown; sisters-in-law, Clara Hunter, Bonnie (Harlan) Borchers, and Carol (Dick) Lang.

Casket bearers will be Eric Nilles, Daniel Nilles, Dale Franklin, Scott Paulsen, Tim Paulsen and Brian Paulsen