Marion E. Urich

MADISON - Marion Elaine Philippi Urich was born Oct. 9, 1939, to her proud parents, John and Gladys Philippi. She was born and raised in Madison, Wis., graduating from Madison East High School in 1957. She had aspirations of traveling after high school. Her Senior yearbook stated the career of “Airline Hostess” by her name. In her 82 years of living on Earth she made sure it was to the fullest. After graduation she got a secretarial degree from Milton College. Her first professional job was with Findorff & Son Inc. (1961-63). The next 10 years she fulfilled her dream of international travel. She worked for Delta Airlines (1964-69) as a sales agent and she lived in both Manhattan, NYC and Chicago. She also trained with partnering airlines (Lufthansa, SwissAir, KLM). There she traveled and worked in Switzerland, Germany, France, Norway, Russia and her favorite destination Greece. In 1969, she returned to her hometown of Madison working as a sales agent for Northwest Airlines (occasionally commuting to Minneapolis, Minn).

On Aug. 9, 1971, she married John Urich and became a stepmother to three amazing girls, Cheryl (Anderson), Kristy (Rodgers), and Patricia (Polk). In 1972, she gave birth to her first daughter, Tamara (Urich-Rintz). In 1975, she gave birth to her second daughter, Amy (Harlan) and decided to be a full-time mom. She would babysit neighborhood children, make the best birthday cakes, and host holiday dinners and many other family events. She loved to be social! As her girls grew up in the 1980s, she began to work part-time again. Working as a claims adjuster for WPS, sales representative for the Welcome Wagon, and the Executive Secretary for the Wisconsin Federation of Lakes. In the 90s she resumed her love for travel by working at various Madison travel agencies (Dickens and Key). She particularly loved preparing travel itineraries for groups of Seniors. She had many repeat customers because of her travel knowledge and friendliness.

In addition to her home and professional life she volunteered for many organizations in her community. She was past President of Bethel Lutheran Church Women, she was very active in the Bethel Lutheran “Rejoice” Church Circle, Past President of the Elvehjem Elementary School PTA, Girl Scout/Brownie Troop leader, Editor of a church cookbook titled “Bless the Food” and Editor of an Elvehjem School cookbook, “Liberty’s Cookbook.” She also taught a summer enrichment class titled “U.S. Travel Adventure” in which kids would plan and budget vacations highlighting our National Parks.

Marion passed away on Sunday, April 3, 2022. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Jacob and Alvina Philippi and grandparents, Ole and Tillie Buckley; parents, John and Gladys Philippi; and spouse, John Urich. She is survived by her sister, Shirley (Don) Slotten; stepdaughters and daughters, Cheryl, (Mike) Anderson, Kristy, (John) Rodgers, Patricia, (James) Polk, Tamara (Barnaby) Urich-Rintz and Amy, (Kohr) Harlan; her nieces and nephew that she adored, Cheri (Shaun) Byrnes, John (Brenda) Slotten, Susie (Patrick) Klar and Kris (Bob) Stroede; grandchildren, James Robert Collier, Lucas Collier, Michael Anderson Jr., Keenan (Alex) Rodgers, Taylor Rodgers, Aaron Rodgers, Haley Polk, Samantha Polk, Jack Polk, Sascha Harlan, Lila Harlan and Kory Harlan; and great-grandchildren, Bella, Chloe and Robert Anderson.

A funeral service will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 14, 2022. A graveside service will follow at ROSELAWN MEMORIAL PARK, 401 Femrite Drive, Monona.  Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, honorariums may be given to the Bethel Horizons Foundation or PeaceHealth Hospice Care, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Foundation, Gift Processing Lockbox #1094, P.O. Box 35146, Seattle, WA 98124-5146.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420