Marlene Marie Frerichs-VanLoh

Marlene was born on February 12, 1939, in Burlington, Texas, the daughter of Oliver (Ollie) Henry Ernst and Edna Hattie (Slama) Ernst. She was their second child and joined her beloved older brother William Eugene Ernst. Marlene graduated from Rosebud High School in 1956 and married William (Bill) Frerichs on June 23, 1956, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Burlington.

Marlene and Bill started their married life in Temple where she worked at First National Bank of Temple until the arrival of their first child, Marla Gay in February of 1961, after Marla’s birth Marlene became a full-time homemaker. Two more children followed. William Todd in August of 1964 and Brian Christopher in September of 1967.

A woman of deep faith and tireless devotion, Marlene was a founding member of St. Luke Catholic Church in Temple, where she remained active in The Women’s Society throughout her life. Once her youngest child became school aged, she began working alongside her husband Bill, at Jones Home and Auto in Belton, which Bill was part owner. After Bill’s passing in 1996, Marlene engaged in several different occupations to fill her time. She especially enjoyed her position as pre-K assistant at Bethune Early Childhood Center in Temple Independent School District.

Marlene enjoyed spending time with friends and family, traveling, and shopping but it was her love of dance that led her to a new chapter of her life. She joined the Stardust Ballroom Dance Club where she was paired with Sidney VanLoh as her dance partner. Their shared love of dancing led to marriage on November 26, 2000. This union brought into Marlene’s life her treasured “bonus “children, Wil, Laura, Gabby and Daniel VanLoh. Sidney and Marlene built a beautiful life together enjoying retirement, dancing, traveling and participating in activities at St. Luke Catholic Church and Immanuel Baptist Church until Sidney’s passing in 2013. A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease didn’t slow Marlene down for many years but eventually her condition required assisted living where she resided until her death.

Marlene’s legacy is one of faith, service, kindness, and love for family. She is survived by her children: Marla Elliott and husband Mark of Temple; Todd Frerichs and wife Kristin of Austin; and Brian Frerichs and wife Catharine of Sumter, South Carolina, Wil VanLoh and wife Jennifer of Houston; Laura VanLoh Penn and husband Erik of Carlsbad, California; Gabby VanLoh Fraunfelder and husband Nick of Roswell, Georgia; and Daniel VanLoh and wife Cara of The Woodlands. Grandchildren: Meagan Elliott Burgart and husband Ryan of Temple, Matthew Hudson Elliott and wife Melissa of Houston, William Grant Frerichs and wife Olivia of Frisco, Austin Reid Frerichs of Dallas, Caroline Cormier Frerichs of Austin, Wilson Bass Frerichs of Sumter South Carolina, Jennings Williams Frerichs of Sumter South Carolina, Grace VanLoh Thweatt and husband Johnson of Dallas, Sarah VanLoh Rechtermann and husband Jack of New York, New York, Mary Laura VanLoh of New York, New York, Asher Truett Fraunfelder of Auburn, Alabama, Keilan Nicole Fraunfelder of Birmingham, Alabama, Piper Halliday Fraunfelder of Roswell, Georgia, Hudson Reid VanLoh of Oxford, Mississippi, Chloe Beth VanLoh of The Woodlands, Dillon Kyle VanLoh of The Woodlands, and Kaylee Joy VanLoh of The Woodlands. Great Grandchildren Fallyn Grace Burgart of Temple, Faith Everlea Burgart of Temple, Harlow James Frerichs of Frisco, William James Thweatt of Dallas, and Rosie Grace Thweatt of Dallas. Marlene is also survived by her sister-in-law, Linda Ernst of Fairview, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Bill Frerichs and Sidney VanLoh; her parents, Ollie and Edna Ernst; and her brother, William “Gene” Ernst.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by the recitation of the Rosary at 6:30 p.m., at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke Catholic Church in Temple. Burial will follow at Bellwood Memorial Park.

The family would like to thank staff and care team of Stoney Brook of Belton for their exceptional care of our mother during her final years. We would also like to express our gratitude to Enhabit Hospice for their devotion to our mother during her final months.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to St. Luke Catholic Church Women’s Society (2807 Oakdale Dr. Temple, Texas 76502) or the Cancer or Parkinson’s charity of your choice.

Marlene will be remembered for her unwavering faith, warm heart, and steadfast devotion to those she loved. We also remember for her smile, she always said “It doesn’t cost you anything to give someone a smile.” Please honor our mother’s memory by giving everyone you see a smile.