Marilyn Bogh Chavera was born in 1942 to Laurence and Helen (Anderson) Bogh, who lived in the Wisconsin Dells area; Marilyn attended Stearns Elementary School which was located about one mile from the 20-acre Bogh farm where they lived for many years. Marilyn also attended Wisconsin Dells High School; St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN; and UW-Madison. Marilyn’s dad worked for the State DNR as a conservation aide in the Dells Lookout Tower, and they lived in the little cabin at the bottom of the tower until she was around seven years old; at that time they moved to the Bogh farm so that Marilyn could attend school.

Marilyn met her dear husband, Ray Chavera, who came from Texas, during her work with the UW-Extension High School Equivalency Program in Madison. They were married in 1970 and had one daughter, Anita Francisca (Chavera) Herrick.

Marilyn worked for 40 years for the State and University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and Madison. Her last position was in the University Outreach/Department of Liberal Studies where she was a classified-staff supervisor, payroll coordinator, grants and budget coordinator and advisor, and general coordinator of the Independent Learning unit. She retired from that position in 2003.

Ray and Marilyn lived in Madison from 1967 to 1974; Milwaukee from 1974 to 1978; Portage from 1978 to 1983; and Madison’s south side from 1983 to 2003, at which time they moved to the Town of Burke. Marilyn’s fondest dream from childhood had been to travel, and from 1991 to 2005 she and Ray, along with Anita and/or close friends, traveled to 11 countries in Europe, Costa Rica, and the Bahamas. Marilyn was grateful to have visited London, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Florence, Milan, Rome, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Brussels, Istanbul and Athens, plus many cities in Spain. She located long-lost relatives in Denmark in 1991, and in 1998 found previously unknown relatives of Ray’s in Spain. They were so happy to visit them.

Marilyn and Ray owned the Bogh farm from 2002 until 2006 and during that time worked hard to restore it. They ultimately sold it to a lovely woman who continued restoration of the farm.

Marilyn learned Mexican cooking from Ray, and they spent many wonderful years entertaining friends and family with ethnic food. Marilyn loved gardening, especially missing perennials and annuals, and she loved to read book after book. Marily had a great love for animals and gave generously to animal rights and welfare entities.

Marily is survived by her husband Ray; daughter and son-in-law Anita and Ray Herrick and Ray’s son Jacob and grandson Tyler; brother-in-law Rick Swedberg; niece and her husband Lora and Steve Harris of Custer along with their three sons; niece and her husband Heather and Doug Sippel along with their two sons; and several cousins along with their children and grandchildren. She is also survived by Ray’s brothers Ignacio Chavera and Eloy Chavera and sister Dora Cruz along with many other in-laws too numerous to name. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Linda Swedberg, former brother-in-law John (Jack) West; nephew David West, in-laws Jesus and Francisca Rodriguez Chavera, sister-in-law Alicia Guerra and Julia Chavera and brother-in-law Guadalupe Chavera; and nephews Israel Cruz and Jerry Chavera.

There is not a memorial service planned. Marilyn’s request is for any donations in her name be made to the Columbia County Humane Society.

The family would like to give special thanks to Prairie Gardens and Bristol Hospice for their exceptional care towards Marilyn.