Marilyn Diane (née Gunther) Bignell, 77, died peacefully with family in Colorado Springs on March 7th, 2025. Marilyn Diane was born January 5th, 1948 in Indianapolis, IN to Peter and Phyllis Gunther. Her family moved to Wheaton, IL when she was young, and she graduated from Wheaton High School in 1966.

In 1971, Marilyn Diane graduated from Biola with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Later that summer, she married Wayne Bignell, a pastoral graduate from Biola as well. It was love at first sight for Wayne (“Where have you been all my life?” when introduced by their good friend, Emmanuel Ephraim).

As an adult, she made nine interstate moves living in Indiana, Illinois, California, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. When asked if her husband was in the military, she would reply, “Yes. When the Commander in Chief of the Lord’s Army askes you to move, you move.” Over the years she was a Public Health Nurse for San Bernadino County, a dialysis nurse in two states, she taught nursing in Pennsylvania, was an administrator for Home Health Care, a Certified Medical Case Manager, and a Medical Research Analyst. Among all her jobs throughout her career, her favorite was being a Mother. 

Marilyn Diane is survived by her children: Aron (daughter-in-love Dana Bignell), Schelau (son-in-love John McGuire), and Rachel, brother and sister-in-love Evan and Claudette (Gunther), brother-in-love Thomas Bignell, grandchildren Vivian and Thaddeus (McGuire), and step-in-love grandchildren Jeremiah and Naishel. She was predeceased by her husband Wayne Bignell, her parents, in-loves, and her brother Alan Gunther.

Marilyn Diane loved reading mystery novels (esp. Agatha Christie), medical research, talking politics, praying for others, and, most of all, talking  about Jesus.

A Memorial service will be held March 24th, 2025 at Village Seven Presbyterian Church at 1 p.m.