Marilyn J. Mellenberger, age 83 passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at Agrace HospiceCare, Inc. in Fitchburg, WI. She was born on October 28, 1940 in Madison, WI to her parents John and Doris (Jordan) Mellenberger of the Dayton/Belleville area. She attended East Dayton Grade School and graduated from Belleville High School in 1958 and then Green County Teacher’s College in 1960. Marilyn taught school for six years and then began working for Green County Highway on November 11, 1966 where she remained until her early retirement in 2000 to help care for her mother. Marilyn enjoyed old country music and made several trips to Nashville with her best friend Mary Schmid over the years. She also enjoyed a good game of euchre and scrabble. Marilyn had a floral design business in the basement of her home and made wedding and specialty cakes in her spare time. She began quilting in the 1990’s and this passion she shared with her late sister Joyce. Marilyn became involved with Project Linus and she made 3,751 quilts for the kids in Madison Hospitals. She continued this art after moving into the nursing home and roughly 1/3 of her quilts were created during her stay there. Marilyn had a thirst for learning new things and during 2022 amidst the COVID shutdown, she decided to teach herself how to crochet and began making scarves and hats for the homeless at the age of 81. Marilyn also enjoyed cooking and continued to watch cooking shows to learn new techniques until she passed. She would have been so happy to get back into a kitchen and whip up something tasty and delicious. Marilyn was a lifetime member of the First United Church of Christ in Belleville and served two terms on the church council and was leader of the Ruth Circle, Charity Sewing Circle, and Craft Circle. She was president of the Resident Council at the New Glarus Home from its beginning in 2014. Marilyn had moved into the New Glarus Home on January 27, 2014 and remained there until her passing.
Marilyn’s survivors include her brother-in-law Dick Lapp of Rockford, cousins, and two God Sons, Royal Mellenberger of Greenfield and Rusty Schmid of Monticello.
She was preceded in death by her parents John and Doris Mellenberger, sister Joyce Lapp, aunts, uncles, cousins, and her good friend Mary Schmid.
Marilyn wanted the following special people in her life thanked for making her life better. To her late sister, Joyce Lapp and brother-in-law Dick Lapp for always being there for her and to the families of Dick Marti, Dale Ryan, Scott Lettman, and Rilla and Kegan French for being there for her while she was at home and since she had moved into the New Glarus Home, Dottie Mellenberger for her help with quilts, errands, and being able to shop for her, Roger Mellenberger for coming through when things were tough, and the staff of the New Glarus Home.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the First United Church of Christ, 130 E. Church St., Belleville, WI with Rev. Laura Kolden officiating. Inurnment will be in the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, WI.
A gathering of relatives and friends will precede the memorial service from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the First United Church of Christ in Belleville.
The Becker-Beal Funeral Home of Belleville is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be given at www.bealfuneralhomes.com
