Marjorie C. Vidlund

Marjorie was born on September 24, 1927, in Ishpeming, Michigan to Clem and Minnie (Swanson) Gothe. Marjorie graduated from Ishpeming High School in 1945. Following graduation, she entered the Augustana Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, Illinois, where she completed the RN program in 1948.

On December 19, 1949, Marjorie married John H. Vidlund, of Chicago, son of Arthur and Elizabeth (Noble) Vidlund, Ishpeming natives. John and Marjorie lived in Chicago for a year and a half, and then moved to Marquette. Early in her nursing career Marjorie worked at Morgan Heights, Acock’s Medical Facility, and finally at St. Luke’s Hospital.

Marjorie and John raised four children, a son (Robert) and three daughters (Lorel, Lynn, and Kristen). Working and raising a family kept Marjorie busy. In 1967 she returned to school to pursue a teaching degree. She received her bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University in 1969 and her master’s degree in 1971. Marjorie taught in the Nursing Department at Northern Michigan University and retired in 1988 as Director of the Practical Nursing Program.

Following retirement, Marjorie and John enjoyed traveling to many areas of the country, including visiting their children who lived out of the area, and watching their grandchildren grow. They especially enjoyed traveling by train, and they made several trips on Amtrak to cities from the east coast to the west coast as well as the northern tier to the southern-most states. John passed away in December 2005, just a few weeks before their 57th anniversary.

Marjorie loved reading, spending time with family and friends, attending concerts by the Marquette Symphony Orchestra and the Marquette City Band, playing Scrabble, cribbage, and other social games, and baking lots of breads and rolls, which she loved sharing as gifts. She had a quick sense of humor, told delightful stories, and loved writing short, whimsical poems. She was an active volunteer at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans, Marquette General Hospital, and Messiah Lutheran Church, where she was a member and enjoyed being a reader at services.

Marjorie is survived by three daughters-Lorel (Mike Green) Vidlund, of Ann Arbor, MI; Lynn (Robert) Schense, of East Lansing, MI, and Kristen (Robert) Koebele of Waukesha, WI. She is also survived by four grandchildren-Rachel (Rob) Tedder, Naomi Evans, David Koebele, and Jordan Green; four great grandchildren; and a sister, Nancy (Barry) Patron. Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; her son, Robert; and a grandson, John Koebele.

A memorial service celebrating Marjorie’s life will be held at the Messiah Lutheran Church on Thursday, December 14 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held from 9:30 until the time of the service. There will be a luncheon gathering in Magnuson Hall following the service. The service will be livestreamed at: https://vimeo.com/event/3946564

Interment will be made in the Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, gifts of remembrance may be given to Messiah Lutheran Church, 305 W. Magnetic Street, Marquette, MI 49855, the Michigan Veterans Home D.J. Jacobetti Life Enrichment Fund, 425 Fisher Street, Marquette, MI 49855, or the Alzheimer’s Association, 1229 W. Washington Street, Suite 6, Marquette, MI 49855.

Marjorie’s family wishes to extend sincere thanks to her care aides at Brookridge Heights, the staff at Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, especially Addey, RN, and the staff at Trillium House. We also remember with thankful hearts Dr. Tom Huffman and his staff, who cared for Marjorie for many years.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.