Marlene Wilson, age 89, passed away March 18, 2023, after a long battle with dementia. She was born January 2, 1934 to Romaine and Leotta De Valle in Kalamazoo, Michigan and later a 1952 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School. She met her future husband, and state park ranger at the time, Frank Wilson in Ludington. They were joined together in marriage in 1958 and had an awe inspiring 64 years of marriage together.
A store clerk at Gilmore and later factory worker at Upjohn, Marlene then gave birth to two children, daughter Tracy Wilson-McFletcher and son Kort Wilson, and raised them as a stay-at-home mom and homemaker. Marlene took a keen interest in Michigan lighthouses and was an avid reader, especially of Amish fiction. She had the most fun crafting or working on her jigsaw puzzles. She especially enjoyed listening to her CDs of Andrea Bocelli or Johnny Mathias. A gentle soul and kindhearted person, she devoted herself to raising her children and helping to raise her grandchildren.

Marlene and her husband enjoyed road trips to Centreville, South Haven, and Shippeswana. Her favorite place was Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, watching the boats at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste Marie where she and Frank took a yearly trip on their anniversary to watch the boats together. An avid Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers fan, she watched many games, along with attending her grandchildren’s hockey, baseball and basketball games. Although she never learned to drive, she would accompany her grandchildren to school from Kalamazoo to Galesburg, MI every weekday while her husband drove, often spoiling them with McDonalds, Burger King or Hot n Now on the way back. She especially enjoyed making her grandchildren breakfast (french toast with powdered sugar & cinnamon and turkey bacon was especially a favorite), lunch and dinner. Throughout their time in school and even into college she would pack their lunches. Quick to offer advice and encouragement or an extra $20 to spend on the town, Marlene was a thoughtful, gentle and kind woman.

Marlene was especially devoted to her husband Frank and as they grew older together, their love was known by all that knew them. She will be especially missed by her husband, children and grandchildren.

Marlene is preceded in death by her parents and grandson Ryan Wilson. She is survived by her husband, Frank Wilson; children, Tracy (Amil) Wilson-McFletcher and Kort Wilson; brother, Larry De Valle; sisters, Bonnie (Tom) Berguis and Marcia (Eddie) Dash; grandchildren Justin (Rebecca) Lesman, Blake Wilson, and Hayley Wilson; and great grandchild, Natalie Lesman.