Marian Douglas

Douglas, Marian Nancy MADISON - Marian Nancy Douglas passed away on Monday, May 21, 2007, from complications due to a massive stroke. Marian was born on March 24, 1931, to Harold and Eleanor (Ahrens) Cnare, in Madison. She worked at the Ice Cream Shops across from Madison East High School, from where she graduated in 1948. Until the stroke, Marian was still the best malt maker in the world. She attended UW-Whitewater and earned her teaching degree. Marian married her high school sweetheart, David Lee Douglas on Nov. 4, 1953. She gave birth to her first child, Daniel, the next year and was soon faced with single parenthood when David went into the service. Marian bought their first house and continued to teach while Dave was in the Philippines. She then had the "3 from 63", when Dawn and the twins, Tim and Scott were born. Marian was totally devoted to her children, coaching baseball, attending football games, music concerts and being affectionately known as "Ma Douglas" by all of their friends. She taught for 38 years, the last 28 at Marquette Middle School in Madison. Marian was firm but fair and was excellent at her profession. She touched so many of her students lives, many of them still state that she was the best teacher they ever had, because she believed in them. Marian always "told it like it was", and had a fantastic sense of humor. After she retired, she and Dave traveled, they especially enjoyed driving to Alaska in 1996, meeting up with their entire family in Las Vegas for a Badgers football game. Marian was an avid Badgers fan, being a season ticket holder for more then 50 years. She also loved the Packers, but still believes the greatest quarterback of all time was Johnny Unitas. Marian was active in the Mendota Gridiron Club, and enjoyed going to lunch with her retired teacher friends, and the Lunch Bunch, her friends from high school. She was a great organizer, planning class reunions, family reunions and other get-togethers. Marian especially treasured the times spent in northern Wisconsin with her children and grandchildren. She was an excellent math tutor not only to her grandchildren, but to Madison Area Technical College students as well. Marian had a huge heart and always thought of others first. She is survived by her husband, David; children, Dan (Linda) Douglas and Scott (Kim) Douglas, all of Madison, and Dawn (Mike) Douglas-Mellom and Tim (Terri) Douglas, all of Cottage Grove; grandchildren, Ryan (Theresa) Douglas, Kellie (Nate) Bett, Matthew, Nick, Jeremy and Kevin Douglas, and Connor and Kaitlyn Mellom; great-grandchildren, Calvin and Lucas Douglas; a brother, Bill (Nan) Cnare of Madison, and their daughters, Rebecca and Julie; and a sister, Jan (Mike) Thomson of Las Vegas, Nev., and their son, Mark. Marian comes from a large extended family, and she was close to many of them. She was especially close to her best friend, Barbara Norene. Marian was preceded in death by her parents; and an infant brother, Charles. A service celebrating Marians life will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2007, with Father Brian Wilk presiding. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, 2007. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711; and Mendota Gridiron Club, 1440 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711. We would like to thank Dr. Paul Wertsch, and the Willows Nursing Home staff, for their wonderful care, the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center staff and St. Marys Hospital, especially Susan, who made a difference early on in Marians recovery. You will always be in our hearts. We will love you forever.