Marilyn May Larson

OBITUARY OF MARILYN GOTTSCHALK LARSON Jubilant, spirited and adventurous Marilyn left her earthly family on March 11, 2024. Marilyn grew up in Shorewood, Wisconsin with her parents, Elmer and Hilda Gottschalk, brothers Tom and Bob, and sister Diane. She attended the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee for one year before transferring to UW – Madison. She pledged Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and began dating future husband James Louis Larson. They enjoyed all that a large campus had to offer. Eating brats and beer, boating and swimming on Lake Mendota were fondly remembered. Marilyn was named Dreamgirl of Jim’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Marilyn graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree in fashion design. She was hired into the buyer training program at Carson, Prairie Scott and worked in Chicago until she and Jim married at Christmastime that year. When Jim was drafted a second time, they moved to a military base in Kentucky, where they welcomed daughter Chris. Later they returned to Madison for Jim to finish law school and pass the Indiana Bar. Then it was off to Fort Wayne, Indiana for the next 60+ years. Marilyn embraced her new home and its many clubs, immediately joining South Side Women’s Study Club and Newcomers. After daughter Sheryl and son Eric were born, Marilyn joined dinner clubs, ladies’ lunch groups, and bridge clubs. She was a member of Psi Iota Xi social sorority and the Fort Wayne Country Club. She entertained in her “enlarged family room” with a regulation pool table, wood dance floor, player piano, nickelodeons and slot machines. She loved to dance and often asked her granddaughter to teach her the new dance moves. She was the “eye candy” in the passenger seat when Jim drove in parades in their calliope-playing antique Model T. She enjoyed golfing, tennis and snow skiing. Vacations with family and friends took her throughout the world. As her children grew, Marilyn and Jim added a summer home at Clear Lake to enjoy water skiing, boating and sailing. Marilyn was very proud that she was still water skiing in her 70s. They joined a “motorcycle gang” of 5 other couples, with Marilyn riding on the back of Jim’s Honda 750 on couples’ overnights to inns in the Tri-State area. When Marilyn’s children reached adulthood and Jim went hunting or fishing, Marilyn was free to travel also, visiting family. She and Chris had many madcap adventures around Southern California in the desert vacationland and San Diego. Her Windjammer cruise with her sister Diane likewise was fondly remembered for adventures and laughing from sunrise until far after sunset. Sheryl most frequently entertained at Christmastime in New Orleans during Trevor and Katie’s childhood. Marilyn’s love for architecture and art was showcased in a three-year journey to design her beautiful contemporary home in Sycamore Hills. All who entered her home commented on its uniqueness and her modern art collection. One of Marilyn’s cherished roles was that of grandmother to Trevor and Katie Thompson. Many visits, either in Ft. Wayne or in New Orleans, were spent playing games, her favorites being Rummy Royale, Rummikub, and double solitaire. She helped teach them golf and bridge at an early age. Playing miniature golf, riding in the convertible Cadillac, and plucking golf balls out of the pond were favorite pastimes with Gram. The silver lining of Hurricane Katrina was that Sheryl, Trevor, and Katie lived with Gram and Grandad for 5 months. I don’t know who considers themselves luckier! The loss of a mother and grandmother leaves a profound imprint on the heart of a family, symbolizing the passing of a cherished generation. Those who remain on earth take comfort knowing that she reunites with her dancing and joke-telling friends and family in heaven. A Celebration of Life for Marilyn will be at 12:00 pm on Monday, March 18, 2024 at D. O. McComb and Sons Funeral Homes - Covington Knolls, 8325 Covington Road with visitation one hour prior to service. Pastor Joe Ferry, Officiating. Interment will be private for the family. Fond memories of Marilyn may be shared at www.mccombandsons.com for the Larson family.