Obituary for Dorothy Marschke
Dorothy Hedwig Stuenkel Marschke died March 10, 2021 in Evanston, Illinois at age 81. Although struggling lifelong with asthma, and in recent years with Alzheimer’s, Dorothy retained to the end her characteristic kindness, graciousness, and contagious smile. Her creativity, ingenuity, and humor were evident in her home and all expressions of hospitality, from artful displays of nature and textiles, to welcoming meals and thoughtful notes.
Dorothy, daughter of Dr. Walter and Helen Reith Stuenkel, was the beloved wife of 55 years of Dr. Paul Marschke; beloved mother of the late Jonathan Paul and of Kara Joy (Robert) Sokol; cherished grandmother of Jack, Walker, and Annika; dear sister of Reverends Robert (Julie) and Roger (Suzanne) Stuenkel, of Rhoda Hayes (Paul), of the late Miriam Hoelter (Rev. Mark) and the late Grace Bruss (Jon); dear aunt of the late Katherine Stuenkel Russell (Jay) and twelve other nephews and nieces; sister-in-law of Ruth Ann Skodacek and of the late Margaret (Rev Roger) Stuenkel.
Burial is to be in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Grace Lutheran Church of Northbrook, where Dorothy was a member.
Born in Shawneetown, Missouri, Dorothy attended Lutheran schools in Missouri, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Finishing Milwaukee Lutheran High School, she was graduated from Concordia University-Chicago, later taking an M.A. in counseling from Eastern Michigan University. Dorothy taught grade school children in Atlanta, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, provided career counseling to children in St. Paul, and was Senior Secretary at the University of Minnesota’s Global Education Center. In Ann Arbor, Ms. Marschke served as Administrative Assistant to the Director of Graduate Admissions for the University of Michigan. She subsequently joined the Graduate Department of History there as Academic Secretary, where she guided each candidate’s progress through the web of departmental requirements—a personal investment in young lives which gained her the gratitude of many aspiring scholars. Dorothy consistently brought a relational touch to her world of work.
This relational spirit characterized her love for her immediate and extended family. It poured over as well into her civic and church volunteerism: her years in the League of Women Voters; her help regularly with local and federal elections; her one-to-one services—in which she excelled—as with Stephen Ministry; her service to her parish as organist and choir director; her random kindnesses toward companion residents and staff in her memory care units in Silverado (Lake Zurich, Illinois) and Auberge (Highland Park, Illinois); and her spontaneous acts of gentle hospitality. These all flowed from a rich faith in Christ, her Lord, a life lived quietly for others.
Donations in Dorothy’s memory may be made to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (lirs.org), to the Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org), or to the Digital Ministry of Grace Church (gracenorthbrook.org, or call 847-498-3060).
Dorothy, daughter of Dr. Walter and Helen Reith Stuenkel, was the beloved wife of 55 years of Dr. Paul Marschke; beloved mother of the late Jonathan Paul and of Kara Joy (Robert) Sokol; cherished grandmother of Jack, Walker, and Annika; dear sister of Reverends Robert (Julie) and Roger (Suzanne) Stuenkel, of Rhoda Hayes (Paul), of the late Miriam Hoelter (Rev. Mark) and the late Grace Bruss (Jon); dear aunt of the late Katherine Stuenkel Russell (Jay) and twelve other nephews and nieces; sister-in-law of Ruth Ann Skodacek and of the late Margaret (Rev Roger) Stuenkel.
Burial is to be in Ann Arbor, Michigan. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Grace Lutheran Church of Northbrook, where Dorothy was a member.
Born in Shawneetown, Missouri, Dorothy attended Lutheran schools in Missouri, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Finishing Milwaukee Lutheran High School, she was graduated from Concordia University-Chicago, later taking an M.A. in counseling from Eastern Michigan University. Dorothy taught grade school children in Atlanta, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, provided career counseling to children in St. Paul, and was Senior Secretary at the University of Minnesota’s Global Education Center. In Ann Arbor, Ms. Marschke served as Administrative Assistant to the Director of Graduate Admissions for the University of Michigan. She subsequently joined the Graduate Department of History there as Academic Secretary, where she guided each candidate’s progress through the web of departmental requirements—a personal investment in young lives which gained her the gratitude of many aspiring scholars. Dorothy consistently brought a relational touch to her world of work.
This relational spirit characterized her love for her immediate and extended family. It poured over as well into her civic and church volunteerism: her years in the League of Women Voters; her help regularly with local and federal elections; her one-to-one services—in which she excelled—as with Stephen Ministry; her service to her parish as organist and choir director; her random kindnesses toward companion residents and staff in her memory care units in Silverado (Lake Zurich, Illinois) and Auberge (Highland Park, Illinois); and her spontaneous acts of gentle hospitality. These all flowed from a rich faith in Christ, her Lord, a life lived quietly for others.
Donations in Dorothy’s memory may be made to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (lirs.org), to the Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org), or to the Digital Ministry of Grace Church (gracenorthbrook.org, or call 847-498-3060).