Marianne Halvorson

Marianne Halvorson of Bloomington passed quietly from this life on Monday, February 05, 2018 February 5, joining her husband “Doc” to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Heaven. She recently celebrated her 98th birthday, born January 23, 1920, in Buffalo NY. She was “born Lutheran”! Her great grandmother, Bertha Pieper, emigrated from Germany with 5 sons, who all became Lutheran ministers in Wisconsin and Missouri. So, it was natural that her mother Ruth married Rev. Herbert Plehn, a young minister from Toledo OH. The oldest of 5 children, she was active in her father’s Rochester, NY church, especially singing alto in choir. She attended Valparaiso University (IN) beginning a lifelong commitment to promoting the Valpo Women’s Guild. Returning to Rochester she worked in the payroll department for Rochester Gas and Electric and soon met her future husband Lyle “Doc” Halvorson, who was starting a mission church in nearby Gates NY. Following the path of her mother, she became the minister’s wife, teaching Sunday school, helping in the office, singing in the choir and sponsoring a Scrabble club. She also increased the congregation with the birth of her 5 children- 4 boys and finally a girl- Andrew, Peter, James, Paul and Marlise. The family moved from Rochester to Avon, Ohio (near Cleveland) where she continued her service to the Lord assisting again with a newly formed Lutheran congregation. With several children, off to college (3 eventually to Valparaiso University) she finished her degree in elementary education at Baldwin Wallace College and served as a substitute teacher for several area schools. After serving another congregation in Brunswick OH, she and Doc moved to Bloomington to be nearer to son Jim and joined Faith Lutheran Church. 2004 brought the passing of her husband, Lyle, and she remained in her condo until health necessitated moving to area assisted living and skilled nursing centers. She was blessed with the caring staff at the Residence at McCormick’s Creek and Meadowood Health Pavilion. She is preceded in joining the Lord by her parents, Herbert and Ruth Plehn, her husband, Lyle, and her sister Betty Graef. Her surviving siblings include- Barbara Schaeffer (Raleigh, NC), Herbert Plehn, (San Antonio, TX), Roland Plehn (Baltimore, MD) and brother in law, Les Graef (Baltimore, MD). Her children survive her- Andrew (Scott Nelson) Chicago, Peter (Carol) Chula Vista, CA, James (Suzanne) Bloomington, Paul (Lisa) Honolulu HI, Marlise Nagel (Christopher) Irvine CA. and daughter in law Thea Bornhoeft. Also survive 10 beloved grandchildren, spouses and 2 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday January 9, 2018 at the Faith Lutheran Church, High St Bloomington, Visitation will be held from 9:30am to service time Friday. with burial in Toledo, OH. Memorials can be made to Faith Lutheran Church, Bloomington. You are invited to share a memory or leave an online condolence to the family at www.allencares.com.

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Marianne Halvorson

January 23, 1920 - February 5, 2018