Marilyn Ann Brautigam Baird of East Lansing, passed away on Thursday, February 20th at the age of 92. Marilyn was born on March 29th, 1932 in Jackson, Michigan, the daughter of John Harold and L. Pearl (Matz) Brautigam.
Following graduation from Jackson High School in 1950 she attended the University of Michigan Nursing School, graduating in 1953. Marilyn worked as a psychiatric nurse at the Veterans Readjustment Center.
She married Dr. Walter Baird on September 4, 1954. Marilyn left nursing in November of 1957 committing to raising their family. Through the years they were blessed with 5 children. The family enjoyed camping and travel throughout Michigan and around the country, as well as, vacationing at their Northern Michigan cottage. Through the international center at MSU, the family was extended with the many international students they befriended.
The woman who as a child dreamed of traveling the world as a sailor in the merchant marine, traveled extensively with her husband in Mexico and Central America, Europe and China, as well as an expedition with her sister to Antarctica.
In the 1970s Marilyn started a new career as an artist. After classes at the East Lansing Arts workshop and Lansing Community College she began showing her work in juried shows in 1974. The artist work in torn paper collage, handmade paper and collagraphs. Her works today are held in many private and corporate collections.
Marilyn is survived by her children, Anne Baird and her husband John Guenther, Wayne and Kristin (Wright) Baird, Gloria Carpenter, James and Suzanne (Lorenz) Baird, Brian and Jennifer (Anderson) Baird, her brother Jack Brautigam, and special family friend, Zhi Xia Wu, 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years Walter Baird, her parents, her sister Nancy (Brautigam) Webber, sister-in-law Dorothy (Waldfogel) Brautigam, son-in-law Hans Cozak, and great-grandson James Baird III.
There will be a visitation on March 8th, beginning at 10:00 a.m. followed at 11:00 a.m. by the funeral service, then a light lunch, all at Ascension Lutheran Church, 2780 Haslett Rd, East Lansing Mi, 48823.
Memorial donations may be made to Ascension Lutheran Church, the Burcham Hills Foundation or a charity of your choice.
