Marlene Gilhoi Brown

Marlene J. Brown, age 88, of Willmar, passed away Thursday morning, Sept. 10, at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home.

A private family service will be held at a later date.  Memorials to Calvary Lutheran Church of Willmar, United Lutheran Church of Lake Lillian, Hawk Creek Animal Shelter or the Kandiyohi County  Historical Society are preferred.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home  in Willmar.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Marlene J. (Lundquist) Gilhoi Brown was born on March 14, 1932, in Lake Lillian, Minnesota, the daughter of Lester and Beatrice (Johnson) Lundquist.  She grew up in Lake Lillian, was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church of Lake Lillian and received her education from the Lake Lillian and Atwater schools.  On August 14, 1948, at First Lutheran Church in Lake Lillian, Marlene was married to LaVerne Gilhoi.  They made their home in Lake Lillian and were blessed with three daughters, Brenda, Betsy and Bridget.  Marlene was a homemaker until 1968, when she went to work at 3M in Hutchinson.  From 1976 to 1977, the family lived in Palo Alto, CA., while LaVerne awaited a heart for his heart transplant surgery.  He passed away later in 1977, and the family returned to Lake Lillian.  Marlene began working at Citizen’s National Bank in Willmar during the strike of the Willmar 8.  In 1982, Marlene was married to Charles “Chub” Brown and they made their home in the Willmar community.  Charlie passed away in 2016, and Marlene lived in Sterling Manor Apartments and entered Bethesda Grand in 2016.  Marlene was an active member of First Lutheran Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher, choir member and played piano for many services, weddings and funerals.  She was a current member of Calvary Lutheran Church.  She enjoyed music, playing piano, bingo, going to Little Dukes for coffee with friends and spending time with her family.

Marlene is survived by one daughter, Bridget (and Bob) Karg of Willmar; son-in-law, Tom Rennecke (and Sharon Jenkins) of Cosmos; grandchildren, Anna (and Josh) Fluck of Litchfield, Andy (and Jessica) Rennecke of St. Joseph, Bobbi Karg of Willmar and Mackenzie Duffy (and Ben Haberland) of Brooklyn, NY.; great grandchildren, Elliot and Maddie Fluck, Matthew and Quinn Rennecke, and another great grandson to be born soon to Mackenzie and Ben.  Also surviving are numerous members of Charlie’s family, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; two daughters, Brenda Duffy and Betsy Rennecke; one brother, Dean Lundquist; one sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Emery Carrigan.

Marlene’s family gratefully acknowledges the exceptional care provided by all the staff at Bethesda.