Marilyn Joyce Anthony

Marilyn (Wanink) Anthony, age 84, of Lansing, Michigan passed away on Friday September 13, 2019. She was born May 24, 1935 in Lakeview, MI., the only child of Howard O. and Helen B. (Herzog) Wanink.

Marilyn attended Pleasant Hill one room country school for 8 years and graduated from Lakeview High School, Class of 1953. She graduated from E. W. Sparrow School of Nursing in 1956 at a cost of a little over $300 and survived on the egg money her mother sent her every week. In 1985, she earned her bachelors in Nursing from Lansing Community College.

In 1959, Marilyn started her career at the American Red Cross Blood Program. First as a Staff Nurse, then to Head Nurse. In 1981, she was promoted to Assistant Director of Nursing. In 1975, she was given the honor to introduce a new form of blood banking (Hemopheresis) to the Lansing Red Cross. The final 3 years before her retirement, Marilyn spent on contract with the National Bone Marrow Program and was instrumental in adding thousands of volunteers to the National Bone Marrow Registry.

She is predeceased by her parents, her husband Paul in 1992, and several close cousins.

Surviving are her son, Howard (Gail) of Selma, N.C. and daughter Pam (Larry) Nelson of Dewitt, MI; six grandchildren, Tony (Emma) and Skyler Nelson, Lucas, Reagan, Jake, and Cord Anthony. It is with sadness that she was not able to see her first great grandchild, Baby Nelson.

Even though Marilyn was an only child, she never considered herself an only child. She loved her childhood and her close relationship to all of her cousins. She was also very proud of her work at the American Red Cross.

We would like extend our heartfelt thanks to Beckie Dringenberg for her care and assistance to Marilyn during the past 3 years. Also, to her son-in-law, Larry, who made her breakfast and administered her pills and shots every morning for over 6 years.

A visitation for Marilyn will be held Tuesday, September 17, 2019 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at 6:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 205 E. Washington, DeWitt, MI 48820. Interment will take place Sept. 18 at 11:00 am at Riverside Cemetery in Langston, MI.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Marilyn's memory may be made to Sparrow Hospice Services, 1210 W Saginaw St, Lansing, MI 48915, and Capital Area Humane Society, 7095 W Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48906.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grdewitt.com for the Anthony family.