Marilyn Ann (Kotowicz) Theobald

Marilyn was born April 2, 1936 in Joliet, Illinois to the late Andrew Joseph Kotowicz and Mary Ann Kotowicz (nee Gaydos).

Marilyn is survived by her three loving children, her daughter, Karen Willis of Edinburg, TX and her two sons, Douglas (Patricia Fera) of Minooka, IL and Brian (Scott DeShong) of Los Angeles, CA. Marilyn also leaves her two loving grandsons and their families: Jason and Angela (Schlott) Willis of Liberty Hill, TX. and Jacob and Jennifer (Cvar) Willis of Liberty Hill, TX. Marilyn is also survived by her four great-granddaughters: twins, Jocelyn and Juliana Willis of Liberty Hill, TX and Leona and Lauren Willis of Liberty Hill, TX.

In addition, Marilyn is survived by her sister and brother in law, Joan (Kotowicz) and Dave Lehmann of Allentown, PA, her brothers and sisters-in-law, Andrew and Grace (Vercellotti) Kotowicz of Frankfort, IL, Joseph and Bonnie (Sedlak) Kotowicz of Ellington, FL, her sister-in-law Mary Ann (Batuzich) Kotowicz of Sun City, AZ, her sister-in-law Suzanne (Theobald) McGowan of Joliet, IL, and many nieces and nephews also survive.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her loving husband of 59 years, James “Jim” Douglas Theobald (1935-2014), her parents, Andrew Joseph and Mary Ann (Gaydos) Kotowicz, her father and mother-in-law Joseph and Marguerite (Nelson) Theobald, her brother Benedict Kotowicz, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Martin and Betty (Hubrich) Theobald, her brother-in-law Gary E. McGowan, and her son-in-law Jay F. Willis.

Marilyn was a graduate of both St. Thaddeus Elementary School and St. Francis Academy High School, both in Joliet, IL. Marilyn met Jim Theobald when he was honorably discharged from the United States Army following his tour of duty in Korea and they married on October 22, 1955 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Cresthill, IL.

Marilyn worked until they started their family with the birth of their daughter, Karen Lynn, followed by the birth of their two sons, Douglas James and Brian James. While Marilyn was a stay at home mom, she became active with St. Mary’s Church in Minooka, IL. She spent most of her time with the Council of Catholic Women for St. Mary’s in Minooka.

Marilyn started working at Minooka Consolidated Schools District #201 in 1968 as a part-time secretary. She spent 43 years with District #201, moving up to various positions with her last role being Director of Technology for the District and finally retiring in 2010 and moving to Ft. Myers, FL.

Marilyn was also a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose in both Joliet, IL and Ft. Myers, FL. Marilyn and Jim traveled extensively around the world by land and by sea. After Jim passed in 2014, Marilyn decided to move closer to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who were the gems of her life and in 2016, she moved to Austin, TX. Marilyn and her family celebrated her 88th birthday on April 2, 2024 in Austin, just as she celebrated each person every day of her life.

Marilyn will be cremated and plans for a special gathering of family and friends in Illinois will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 20, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Minooka, IL with a reception immediately following the service. At a later date, Marilyn’s ashes will then be joined with her husband Jim’s in the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to a fund established with the U.S. VETS Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, Los Angeles, where the family has established the “Jim & Marilyn Theobald Family Fund.”

You can make a donation online, by mail or donate at Marilyn’s service or anytime thereafter.

Questions about donations or tributes should be directed to Robert Stohr, M.S., L.M.F.T. Executive Director, U.S. Vets Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, Los Angeles, [email protected]. Every dollar donated in their name will go directly to benefit vets, male & female, for mental health services, housing, medical care, job placement, and workforce development.