Marilyn Laurion

MADISON, Marilyn Ruth Laurion (nee Riemann) passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at the Hebron Nursing facility in Oakwood Village. Marilyn suffered a stroke at home on Thursday, April 24, and had been at Hebron only three days when she died.

"Lyn" was born in the village of Epleyanna, IL, now part of Davis, IL on April 12, 1925, to Rev. William and Frieda Riemann. The family, including elder siblings Robert and Dorothy, moved to Minneapolis, MN in 1930, where Lyn's Dad became pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church. The family remained in Minneapolis for 11 years where Lyn attended Lowell School, Jordon Junior High, and North High School before the family moved to Chicago in 1943. She graduated from Senn High School in Chicago in 1945. In preparation for a nursing degree, Lyn attended the University of Illinois for one year and Northwestern University for one year. As part of her studies, she was a student nurse at Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago for 3 years.

In 1948, Lyn married Robert "Bob" M. Laurion and during the next 8 years their children Joan, Tom, Jim, and Ruth were born. They also moved 10 times during their first 10 years of marriage with residences in Chicago, IL, Woodland Park, CO, Colorado Springs, CO, Washington, DC, Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Roselle Park, NJ, and finally Madison, WI.

After Lyn and Bob took up residence on Madison's near west side in 1959, they did not move again for the next 50 years and Lyn became an active part of the Madison community. Lyn and Bob joined Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ (ORUCC) in 1959, when it was still meeting at the West Side Business Men's Club. Over the years, Lyn served the fledging church on various boards and search committees, as the church school superintendent, as Moderator for 2 years, and as a long time member of the church choir. She was also active in Girl Scouting as a troop leader and trip counselor, helping the girls in her troop organize a trip to the Girl Scout headquarters in Mexico when they were in high school.

Lyn loved getting together with friends. She played golf at Black Hawk Country Club and served as president of the "18-Holers" there. She was an enthusiastic member of "Spokes", a group that biked around southern Wisconsin. She played bridge monthly with friends from Wisconsin Rapids and was an active member of the "Dollars and Cents" investment club. Lyn hosted many get-togethers for family and friends at their beloved Triple Ridge Farm, an 80-acre farm in Coloma, WI, and she and Bob traveled extensively with friends all over the United States and the world. Lyn loved living at Oakwood Village where she and Bob moved in 2009. She volunteered in the Oakwood grocery store, attended Bible Study with friends from ORUCC who also lived at Oakwood, continued her lifelong love of gardening by tending a plot on the Oakwood grounds and contributed generously to the Oakwood Foundation.

Lyn is survived by her four children: Joan Laurion of Madison, Tom Laurion and his wife Kathy Firchow of Lander, WY, Jim Laurion and his wife Suzanne of Bigfork, MT, and Ruth Bowman and her husband Michael of Baton Rouge, LA. Survivors also include four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Manal Stulgaitis, her husband Alex O'Riordan, and their 2-year-old son, Kingston, Cassie Wagler, Victor Laurion and Henry Laurion, his wife Catelin, and their 4-month-old daughter, Annabel. Lyn was preceded in death by her husband Bob in 2010.

A service in memory of Lyn will be held at Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, 1501 Gilbert Rd, Madison, WI, on May 22, at 10:30 AM, followed by a luncheon at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lyn's name can be made to Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin - Badgerland Council, 2710 Ski Lane, Madison, WI, 53713, or Oakwood Foundation Continuing Care Endowment, 6205 Mineral Point Rd, Madison, WI, 53705.