Marlyn A. Franzen

Franzen, Marlyn A. OREGON- Marlyn A. Franzen, age 72, passed away on Saturday Dec. 18, 2010, at home surrounded by her family. She was born on Feb. 4, 1938, in Carthage, S.D., the daughter of John and Esther Windedahl. Marlyn married Kermit Franzen on June 20, 1960. She graduated that same year with a BA. in Elementary Education from Gustavus Adolphus College. She earned an MS in Behavioral Disabilities from UW Madison in 1977. She worked in education, developing Messiah Lutheran Church nursery school, and then for Madison School District for 36 years, as a fourth grade teacher, then in special education, talented and gifted, and as a program support teacher and administrator. She retired in 1996. Marlyn was a kind and positive light in the lives of many. She was an active member of Messiah in Madison, St. James Lutheran in Verona and Lutheran Church of the Foothills in Tucson, Ariz., and volunteered at Oakwood Village in Madison. She served in leadership roles at church, in professional organizations like WACBD and WDLD and in the Madison Civics Club. Marlyn enjoyed spending time with family and friends in the Madison area and her winter home in Tucson, Ariz. She loved to entertain, travel the world, play bridge and she adored spending time with her grandchildren. Marlyn is survived by her husband of 50 years, Kermit; a son, Mark (Janice) Franzen of New Berlin; a daughter, Karyn of Los Angeles, Calif.; grandchildren, Bryan and Sarah; and sisters, Joyce Herron of Hill City, S.D., and Ardis (James) Johnson of Brookings, S.D. The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Tucson Medical Center and to the St. Marys Hospital and HospiceCare in Madison, and dear friends and neighbors for their loving care and support. A memorial service will be held at ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH, 427 S. Main St., Verona, at 11 a.m. On Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010. Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Scholarship Fund at St. James Lutheran Church, Verona, WI or to HospiceCare of Madison. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Scholarship Fund at St. James Lutheran Church, Verona, WI or to HospiceCare of Madison. Visitation: Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday Service: A memorial service will be held at ST. JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH, 427 S. Main St., Verona, at 11 a.m. On Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010.