Gladys Marilee Franke

MADISON-Marilee Franke, born Gladys Marilee Ortmayer in Bozeman, Montana, February 21, 1925, passed away Friday, September 25, in Madison, Wisconsin. The daughter of Louis Ortmayer, Methodist minister, and his wife Gladys, Marilee experienced life growing up in various small Montana towns. Instilled in her were values of honesty, fairness and a love of nature. Louis and Gladys eventually retired to the Bozeman area, building a small home with building materials donated by the Livingston, Montana, Methodist congregation and appropriately named "Friendship Cabin." This tiny home became Marilee's "home away from home" where she spent many a summer hiking, riding horses, talking politics and photographing her beloved Montana. It was indeed a place of friendship, welcoming family, friends and friends of friends with open arms, a warm meal and a place to lay a sleeping bag. Marilee continued this tradition, being enriched and fulfilled by the friends, family, mountains, and skies. Loved by many as a friend and by still more as a teacher, nature lover and canine enthusiast. Marilee graduated Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio, in 1946. She later received a teacher's certificate and taught in public schools in California, Montana and Wisconsin, spending most of her career as an English teacher at Jefferson High School, in Jefferson, Wisconsin. A lover of language, she taught literature, was faculty advisor to the student newspaper, and directed numerous stage plays for the drama department, memorably receiving (graciously) a basset hound in lieu of flowers on opening night of a fearless production of South Pacific! Her teaching career came to a close as rheumatoid arthritis began to limit her mobility and ravage her joints with pain, a condition which would only worsen through the years. Marilee had two daughters, Rebecca and Naomi, with her first husband, Bob (Charles) White, who succumbed to leukemia at far too young an age. Born in 1952, Rebecca ("Becky") Ward resides in Bozeman, Montana, and gave Marilee and Burnie their only grandchild, Tennia Schanz, and two great-grandchildren, Hunter and Tamika Lode. Naomi, born in 1955, was taken from the family by a tragic automobile accident in 1974. Remarrying in 1961 to Burnell "Burnie" Franke, Marilee gave birth to one son, Nevin, in 1962. After a few years in Middleton, Wisconsin, the Frankes moved to Jefferson to provide Marilee the opportunity to pursue her teaching career. Embracing the environmental movement in its early days with heart and soul, Marilee instilled a strong conservation ethic in many of her students, friends and family. Through her "En-Act Club," students sponsored recycling drives, pursued ambitious hiking, skiing and biking outings, and conducted fundraising events for groups such as Friends of the Earth, Eagle Valley Environmentalists and the Wilderness Society. Marilee's family always included at least one dog, and each in her time was a very special companion. Marilee's joy was palpable when Dinah sat at the dinner table with the family. Her laughter could be heard while floating the Yellowstone River with her dachshunds Cindy and Pasha. She hiked and biked with terrier mix Carmel, basset Mandy, and enjoyed the pleasure of companionship with her Welsh Corgis Sophie and Osa and, most recently, poodle mix Jasper. Most of these family pets became community pets through their frequent presence at the family business, Burnie's Rock Shop. Marilee was serenely happy when walking "The Land"—the homestead in western Montana where all were welcome and one could live the simple life without electricity or running water. Activities there included fixing delicious meals on an old wood cookstove, picking bountiful bouquets of the land's many wildflowers or simply watching Montana's striking skies and magnificent sunsets. Joyful, unrestrained laughter was often heard between Marilee and "sister-friend" Joanne Brewer, who, with husband Leslie, often made trips to "The Land." The Franke family is grateful to Oakwood Village East, its caring, professional staff and fellow residents for their love and generosity through Marilee's residency and final battle with cancer. Gratitude is also extended to Senior Helpers for their companionship, and to the staff of Agrace Hospice Care for their compassion, kindness and loving support of Marilee and her family. A private memorial was held in Madison. Donations to honor Marilee's memory may be made to The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth, or your local animal shelter. Online condolences may be made to www.gundersonfh.com.