MARIAN RETZLAFF
August 04, 1934 - December 02, 2015
Obituary
Marian Lucile Retzlaff (Kratz), age 81, formerly of Neenah, went home to Heaven to meet her Savior on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 after a courageous seven month battle with brain cancer.
She was born on August 4, 1934 in the Town of Rushford, Wisconsin to the late John and Bertha (Pollex) Kratz. She was baptized on August 19, 1934 and later confirmed in her faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Borth on June 22, 1947. She stayed faithful to her Confirmation promises until her death. Marian graduated from Omro High School in 1952 at the top of her class.
On May 26, 1956, Marian married the love of her life; Orin Retzlaff, at Grace Lutheran Church in Omro, Wisconsin. Together, Orin and Marian started a Christian home where they would raise six children together. Orin and Marian loved each other and their children very deeply and set a Christian example for their children their entire lives. After 28 wonderful years of marriage together, God called Orin home to Heaven on June 30, 1984, and Marian has missed him dearly ever since. What a blessing and comfort to know that Orin and Marian are enjoying a blessed reunion in Heaven together.
Marian wanted to be two things when she grew up: a wife and a mother. She was wonderful at both. Marian was a homemaker while Orin was alive and put her husband and her children before herself. Her love for her husband and her children was very evident. Marian enjoyed playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, visiting with her relatives, friends, and neighbors, but most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. Whether it was a get-together for a holiday, Mother's Day, a birthday, or her trips to Florida with her daughters, Marian was happiest being with her family.
Marian was a faithful member of Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neenah.
She is survived by her children: Susan Zitzelsberger, Appleton, Diane (Daniel) Vanden Heuvel, Hortonville, Wayne (Diane) Retzlaff, Hortonville, Jean (Shawn) Luft, Neenah, Karen (James) Yurs, Monroe, WI, Jeffrey (Vicki) Retzlaff, Appleton; grandchildren: Amy Zitzelsberger; Eric (Crystal) Zitzelsberger; Kimberly (Benjamin) Hoff; Kari (Timothy) Miller; Scott Vanden Heuvel; Jamie, Neil, Jordan Retzlaff; Emily Luft; Alexa, Maxwell, Abigail Yurs; Jessica, Rob, Blake Retzlaff; great grandchildren: Ann, Randall, Kinze Zitzelsberger; Dominic Houle; sisters: Esther (Raymond) Marks, Winneconne; Helen Lee, Omro; Marie (Richard) Derber; Ruth (Clair) Retzlaff, Omro; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and her husband; she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Randall Zitzelsberger; granddaughter, Sarah Vanden Heuvel; great granddaughter, Lilly Zitzelsberger; sisters: Louise Wright; Lorraine Schnieter; brother, Louis Kratz.
Marian's family would like to thank so many people who have been a wonderful support for mom and us during these difficult months: mom's dear cousin Alice Gazecki; her sister-in-law Grace Vowels, Dr. Nathan Munson; Dr. William Guenther; Dr. Alexander Hawkins; all of the caring staff of these doctors, especially Marlene Ver Voort at FVHO; the caring staffs of Oakridge Gardens and The Gardens of Fountain Way; the caring people at Remedies; the compassionate staff from Heartland Hospice; and Pastor Tyler Schinnick and Pastor Jason Oakland for sharing God's comfort with mom.
The Christian Funeral for Marian will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Martin Luther Ev. Lutheran Church (436 S. Lake Street, Neenah) with Pastors Jason Oakland and Tyler Shinnick officiating. Friends will be received on Monday, December 7 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Neenah's Westgor Funeral Home, and again on Tuesday directly at the church from 12:00 p.m. until the hour of service. Marian will be laid to rest beside her husband at Oak Hill Cemetery in Omro.
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23 KJV)
She was born on August 4, 1934 in the Town of Rushford, Wisconsin to the late John and Bertha (Pollex) Kratz. She was baptized on August 19, 1934 and later confirmed in her faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Borth on June 22, 1947. She stayed faithful to her Confirmation promises until her death. Marian graduated from Omro High School in 1952 at the top of her class.
On May 26, 1956, Marian married the love of her life; Orin Retzlaff, at Grace Lutheran Church in Omro, Wisconsin. Together, Orin and Marian started a Christian home where they would raise six children together. Orin and Marian loved each other and their children very deeply and set a Christian example for their children their entire lives. After 28 wonderful years of marriage together, God called Orin home to Heaven on June 30, 1984, and Marian has missed him dearly ever since. What a blessing and comfort to know that Orin and Marian are enjoying a blessed reunion in Heaven together.
Marian wanted to be two things when she grew up: a wife and a mother. She was wonderful at both. Marian was a homemaker while Orin was alive and put her husband and her children before herself. Her love for her husband and her children was very evident. Marian enjoyed playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, visiting with her relatives, friends, and neighbors, but most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. Whether it was a get-together for a holiday, Mother's Day, a birthday, or her trips to Florida with her daughters, Marian was happiest being with her family.
Marian was a faithful member of Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neenah.
She is survived by her children: Susan Zitzelsberger, Appleton, Diane (Daniel) Vanden Heuvel, Hortonville, Wayne (Diane) Retzlaff, Hortonville, Jean (Shawn) Luft, Neenah, Karen (James) Yurs, Monroe, WI, Jeffrey (Vicki) Retzlaff, Appleton; grandchildren: Amy Zitzelsberger; Eric (Crystal) Zitzelsberger; Kimberly (Benjamin) Hoff; Kari (Timothy) Miller; Scott Vanden Heuvel; Jamie, Neil, Jordan Retzlaff; Emily Luft; Alexa, Maxwell, Abigail Yurs; Jessica, Rob, Blake Retzlaff; great grandchildren: Ann, Randall, Kinze Zitzelsberger; Dominic Houle; sisters: Esther (Raymond) Marks, Winneconne; Helen Lee, Omro; Marie (Richard) Derber; Ruth (Clair) Retzlaff, Omro; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and her husband; she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Randall Zitzelsberger; granddaughter, Sarah Vanden Heuvel; great granddaughter, Lilly Zitzelsberger; sisters: Louise Wright; Lorraine Schnieter; brother, Louis Kratz.
Marian's family would like to thank so many people who have been a wonderful support for mom and us during these difficult months: mom's dear cousin Alice Gazecki; her sister-in-law Grace Vowels, Dr. Nathan Munson; Dr. William Guenther; Dr. Alexander Hawkins; all of the caring staff of these doctors, especially Marlene Ver Voort at FVHO; the caring staffs of Oakridge Gardens and The Gardens of Fountain Way; the caring people at Remedies; the compassionate staff from Heartland Hospice; and Pastor Tyler Schinnick and Pastor Jason Oakland for sharing God's comfort with mom.
The Christian Funeral for Marian will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Martin Luther Ev. Lutheran Church (436 S. Lake Street, Neenah) with Pastors Jason Oakland and Tyler Shinnick officiating. Friends will be received on Monday, December 7 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Neenah's Westgor Funeral Home, and again on Tuesday directly at the church from 12:00 p.m. until the hour of service. Marian will be laid to rest beside her husband at Oak Hill Cemetery in Omro.
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23 KJV)
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