Marilyn Jane Kilzer

Marilyn Jane Kilzer of Marion, Ohio, died peacefully in her sleep December 4, 2010. She was born October 22, 1929, in Mansfield, Ohio, to John and Katherine (Stehle) Vandlik. She was 81 years old.

Marilyn graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in 1947 and attended Elohim Christian College in New York where she solidified her relationship with Christ, her Savior. She loved to sing and play the piano and was a member of the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Mansfield, Ohio, the First Baptist Church, Galion, Ohio, and later in life, Oak Knoll Baptist Church, Marion, Ohio. She married Paul Kilzer January 29, 1950, and spent most of her life in the Galion and Marion, Ohio, areas. She worked for many years at the Isaly Shoppe in Marion and had many friends.

She was a tremendous influence on many peoples’ lives, in particular, her children and grandchildren. We all share fond memories and will miss her terribly.

She resided in the Park Regency Senior Living nursing facility in Tempe, Arizona, since July, 2009, with her husband Dwain Kilzer whom she married June 20, 1998. She was afflicted with Dementia with Lewey Bodies, a debilitating disease of the brain; Dwain was her primary caretaker for the past six years.

Marilyn is survived by her daughter, Debra Kurtz (Columbus, Ohio) and son, Kevin (Charlene) Kilzer (Chandler, Arizona), seven grandchildren, John (Raquel) Holloway, Adalyn (Ben) Bond, Isaac Faulds, Nathaniel Kilzer, Rebecca (Ryan) Goetz, Freya (Shawn) Sexton, and Justin Kimbler. She is also survived by seven great grandchildren, Dustin Howard Holloway, Austin Holloway, Tristin Holloway, Raven Holloway, Arianna Sexton, Channing Bond and David Sexton. Marilyn also has two surviving sisters, Corrine (Denny) Grassel, Mansfield, Ohio, and Myrna Roth, Federalsburg, Maryland, many nieces and nephews and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Paul in 1997, her daughter, Elaine Kimbler in 2002, her sister-in-law, Ruth Kilzer in 2002, two siblings, Charles Vandlik and Carol Mathias and her parents.

A private memorial service will be held at a later time with interment at the Dayton National Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, in the Spring of 2011.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Gideon’s International (www.gideons.org) , Hospice Services in your local community, or the charity of your choice.