Marlene Jule Luhrsen, 76, died July 16, 2009 in Wheaton, IL after seven months of fighting Mesothelioma. She was the beloved wife for 55 years of Paul H. Luhrsen, and loving mother of Dane Luhrsen, Heidi Gagnon, Tyra Luhrsen, and Kris Luhrsen, all of Wheaton IL.
Marlene was born on January 11, 1933 in Cicero, Illinois to parents John and Tyra Kimbark. She had two siblings, Jacqueline (Perkins) and John Kimbark. She was raised in Cicero, IL and graduated from Morton High School in 1949.
Marlene attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1954. She was an outstanding student receiving both Torch and Mortar Board awards and was a proud member and President of her Chi Omega Sorority.
On June 26, 1954, Marlene married her college sweetheart, Paul Luhrsen of Elmhurst .After a brief stint in the Army, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Marlene and Paul moved to LaGrange Highlands, IL where Paul began a 35 year career with IBM. Marlene had her four children while they were moving around. Four young ones by the age of 28 kept Marlene busy at home.
After five years in LaGrange, they moved to Wheaton, IL where they were active members of the First Presbyterian Church while the children attended Whittier, Edison, and Wheaton High School. Paul and Marlene were co-founders and Co-Presidents of the S&S Club, a group of friends and families who enjoyed many vacation and holidays together. Train trips to Winter Park, Colorado for skiing, bus trips to University of Illinois football games and car trips to Fort Walton Beach, Florida for sun and relaxation.
They left Wheaton to follow Paul's IBM career through Endwell, New York, New Canaan, Connecticut and Atlanta, Georgia where Paul retired. While in Atlanta, they were active members of Peachtree Presbyterian Church, volunteers at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, and members of the family selection committee of the local Habitat for Humanity chapter. Marlene was captain for many years of her Huntcliffe women's tennis team. She was a very competitive player.
Marlene (Mema to her Grandchildren) loved hosting her grandchildren for vacations in Atlanta that were called "Camp Mema and Grandpa." These were highlights of the grandchildren's childhoods. In 2001, they moved back to Wheaton to be closer to their children and grandchildren who all eventually also settled in Wheaton. They renewed their relationship with the First Presbyterian Church and were avid fans and supporters of their grandchildren's sports, music and school activities. Mema was a regular at Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger football games and volleyball matches, Montini football games, Edison Middle School basketball games and cross country meets and Madison Elementary School "Olympics". Whether it was a State Championship match or a 5th grade orchestra concert, the kids could count on Mema to be there to cheer for them. A typical fall Friday would find Marlene and Paul rooting on their grandchildren at five different contests.
Marlene traveled around the world with Paul on business trips. When the grandchildren graduated from middle school they started a tradition of taking a grandchild on a trip. These adventures included the trips to Sweden, the Galapagos Islands, France, Italy, Costa Rica, the North Pole and the Baltic region. It was a perfect age for bonding with their grandchildren. Marlene loved the Illini and cheered on Paul's football career and enjoyed many more visits over the years as three of her children and four of her grandchildren followed her footsteps to Champaign/Urbana.
In 2006, Marlene and Paul built a cabin in northern Wisconsin near Rhinelander on land that has been in her family for over 90 years. Mema loved visiting the cabin and her care, attention and memories will last there forever. Marlene also loved dogs and most of her years were accompanied by loyal friends Stormy, Swede, Spook, and the latest, Pokey. Marlene and Paul and built five different houses over the years. Marlene made sure they were homes with beautiful landscaping, flowers and an always open door with a great meal, clean towel and fresh sheets welcoming in family, friends and neighbors. Marlene was a role model and an example for all who had the good fortune to meet her, as a daughter, sister, friend, mother, fan, teacher, neighbor, aunt, grandmother and for 55 years as a spouse to Paul.
Marlene is survived by her husband, Paul, four children and their families, Dane and Mary Beth (Brennan) Luhrsen – Katie, John, Annie and Eric, Heidi and Bob Gagnon – Jacqueline (Gagnon) and Matt Sinclair, Julie, Megan and Morgan, Tyra Luhrsen – Jule, Kris and Diane (Terveer) Luhrsen – Janee, Paul and Luke, all of Wheaton, IL. She is also survived by her brother John and Bernie Kimbark, niece Kim (Perkins) and Even Kvelland, nephew Mike and Peggy Perkins, other relatives, Chi Omega sorority sisters, Sigma Chi brothers, and many friends and neighbors. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Jacqueline (Perkins/Aeschliman).
Visitation will be at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main Street, Wheaton, IL on Sunday, July 19 from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Her funeral service will be held Monday, July 20 at 10:00 A.M.at First Presbyterian Church on 715 N Carlton St. in Wheaton. The family will have an internment at Newbold Cemetery near Rhinelander, Wisconsin on Tuesday July 21.
Her family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations are sent to the American Cancer Society 999 N. Main St. Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, 120 Wall Street, 19th Floor , New York, NY 10005 (www.jdrf.org) or the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton.