Marilyn A. John Obituary
Marilyn Alexander John passed away on June 14th with a heart full of love for those she leaves behind. Marilyn was the remaining first generation of Ray and Christine Alexander from the beautiful Finger Lakes region in New York state, proceeded by her sister, Shirley Sullivan of Milwaukee, her brother, Harold of Union Springs, NY and sister-in-law, Susan John of Milwaukee. Marilyn met her dear late husband Carl F. John on a blind date in Milwaukee and were married in a snow storm in Sage chapel on the Cornell Campus in November, 1958. Carl and Marilyn will be together again as they were for fifty-six years.
Marilyn leaves four wonderful daughters, Constance Elizabeth, Paula Jeanne Bartel (Paul), Christine John (Michael McBride), Carrie Helene (Joseph Wolpow) and two amazing grandchildren, Carly and Mitchell McBride to carry on for the John/Mayer/Alexander families.
Carl and Marilyn spent every summer going in different directions with four young daughters asking are we there yet, without a clue that we were headed for Glacier National Park, the Rockies, the Finger Lakes, Maine or Florida. Their love of travel continued as they grew older with multiple trips to Europe. Marilyn's love of travel continued after the many trips that she and Carl took together and later Marilyn continued with trips down the Amazon, to Russia and to a Game Reserve in South Africa.
Marilyn was very involved in the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (a clarinet player in her school in New York for eight years). Marilyn was also a passionate advocate for environmental causes including a big project as leader of Watershed Watchers working with like-minded friends who spent endless hours to stop the West Bend airport from expanding into the neighboring wetlands.
Marilyn will always tell you the best years of her life were spent in classrooms teaching reading, teaching at risk 6, 7, 8th graders or teaching communication and English to juniors and seniors. In college she was involved in many leadership roles including a year as head of a six week practice teaching experience for all women on campus. She realized her talents were needed helping lower school students get a good foundation.
Marilyn's family would like to thank the Neuro-ICU medical staff at St. Luke's for their compassionate care.
A celebration of Marilyn's life will be held at Riveredge Nature Center, 4458 County Hwy Y in Saukville at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 13, 2022. Interment at Graceland Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Marilyn's name should be directed to Riveredge Nature Center, P.O. Box 26, Newberg, WI 53060.
