Marilyn Woolever, 80, of Kendall died May 16, 2014, at Gundersen St. Joseph’s in Hillsboro.
She was born to Harry and Rebecca (Garrett) Newman on May 23, 1933, in Ellison Bay, Wis. She spent her high school years at the Wittenberg Children’s Home and then went on to receive her associate’s degree from the Waldorf College as a secretary. She worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs – Tomah until her retirement.
Marilyn was united in marriage to Bill Woolever on Nov. 21, 1954, in Kendall. Except for the short time they lived in Montana, where their first child was born, she lived near Kendall and farmed with Bill, until his retirement in 1994. Marilyn and Bill enjoyed many vacations in their motor home. Some were to visit out-of-state relatives, and others were as far away as Alaska. There were very few states they didn’t visit. They also enjoyed a cruise of Tahiti and ending in Hawaii. Marilyn was an avid card player and enjoyed playing Tic, pinnacle, and pheffer with Bill and the neighbors and relatives. She was a Senior Olympic Gold Medalist spelling champ for nine years, once winning a 34-round championship match against a retired teacher.
She had lived at Heritage Manor for the last 10 1/2 years, and the employees and residents became her extended family. She was a trusted confidant, and if you had a question, all you needed to do was ask Marilyn. She was always positive and always made the best of everything. She was a devoted wife, and a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Marilyn is survived by three children, Barbara (Nick) Dacloush of Dodge Center, Minn., and Linda (Jack) Geddes and Terry Woolever, both of Kendall; two grandsons, Joshua (Allison) Hendrickson of Mauston and Travis (Rachel) Hendrickson of Black River Falls; three great-grandchildren, Violet, Michael and Travis Jr.; a brother, Walter (LaRayne) Newman of Ooltowah, Tenn.; three sisters, Marge Toth of Antigo, Wis., Delores Woolever of Elkhorn, Wis., and Anna McKinney of Black Rock, Ark.; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Esther Bohnert of Sparta, Raymond (Gloria) of White Hills, Ariz., Leo of Winnebago, Ill., and Beverly (Walter) Sorrell of Schertz, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Eileen; two brothers, Harold and Joseph; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Grace Lutheran Church in Elroy. Pastor Wesley W. Dunbar will officiate. Burial will be in Glendale Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to call Tuesday at the Smith-Nelson Funeral Home, 112 E. South Railroad St., Kendall, from 4–8 p.m., and at the church on Wednesday from 12 p.m. until the time of the service.
The Smith-Nelson Funeral Home in Kendall is assisting the family with the arrangements.
