Marilyn Mae Kienbaum, age 86 of Whitewater, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family members, on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 at her home.
Marilyn was born in Janesville on Nov. 1, 1926, the daughter of Ada and Donald McQuillin. She also had two stepfathers, Dewey Kading and Gus Utterberg.
Marilyn married Harold Kienbaum, a farmer, on June 7, 1944. She and Harold lived on a farm on Townline Road in rural Whitewater for many years. They had six children. Marilyn moved to the house where she lived as a child in Whitewater in 1995.
Marilyn loved Whitewater. It was indeed her town. She would always tell people it was a great place to live. She was always a wonderful community servant. Besides raising six children and helping Harold run the farm, she has done many other things also. She worked for the Census Bureau for a couple of years. She served as side supervisor on the Whitewater Township Board for 2 years and as Township Chairperson for 4 years.
After Marilyn moved to the city of Whitewater, she served on the Whitewater City Council.
Marilyn has also been director of the Whitewater Food Pantry for many years.
She has always looked out for the less fortunate. She not only helped them with food, but also helped them find housing, furniture, clothes, etc. She also helped many young people by letting them do community service at the food pantry.
Her greatest honor from the people of Whitewater was to have the food pantry named after her. She was the recipient of many other community awards.
Marilyn has also been a great advocate of the UW-Whitewater students. She was invited to talk about the food pantry and city government many times to the students.
Surviving are her children, Kenneth Kienbaum, Leonard Kienbaum, John (Janice) Kienbaum, James (Jodeen) Kienbaum, of Whitewater, Nancy (Randy) Thelen of Elkhorn and Janice Kienbaum of Barron; grandchildren, Cori (Jeremy) Niemuth, Rick Kienbaum, John (Christina) Kienbaum, Michael Kienbaum, Brittany Kienbaum, Jeffrey (Kim) Pagel, Jennifer (Ryan) Buhrow, Ryan (Jen) Kienbaum, Eric, Brandon, Amy, Jill, Peggy (Scott) Dixon, Kim (Derek), Colsan, Katie (Mike) Wozniak, Bridget (Ben) Krutzik, and Jason (Sasha) Thelen; 15 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Harriet Millard, Helen Stork, and Lucille Kienbaum; brother-in-law, Carl Kienbaum, and many nieces and nephews.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Kienbaum, parents, Ada Utterberg, Donald McQuillin, and stepfathers Dewey Kading and Gus Utterberg as well as aunts and uncles, Harley and Winnie Chatfield and Ed and Vida Johnston.
Memorials can be made to the Whitewater Food Pantry, Whitewater High School Alumni Association, or First English Lutheran Church.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012 from 4-8 p.m. at Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater. Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012 at First English Lutheran Church with one hour of visitation before the service.
“It’s not when you leave… It’s what you leave behind that’s important. Thank you, Mom. You have been a blessing to all.”
For online guest registry, visit www.nitardyfuneralhome.com.
