Marlene Antoinette (Heise) Schroeder, age 80, died peacefully of natural causes on Dec. 7, 2020, at the Wesley Ridge Retirement Community in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Marlene Antoinette Heise was born to Carl and Florence (Fredrickson) Heise on June 15, 1940, in Omaha, Neb. She graduated with a B.A. from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Marlene married Franklyn Schroeder on June 9, 1962. She and Franklyn lived in various communities in Wisconsin and Illinois, where Franklyn served as pastor of Lutheran congregations. Marlene worked as a librarian, substitute teacher, store clerk, and census worker. In their retirement, Franklyn and Marlene traveled to numerous craft shows, selling their weavings and needlework. Marlene’s hobbies included reading, knitting, crocheting, hardanger embroidery, and collecting thimbles and antique sewing tools. She was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in De Soto, Illinois.

Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters Roberta Aasen and Caroline Hilton, and infant brother Carl, Jr. She is survived by her sister Mary Bowen (John Bowen); daughters Joy Schroeder ‘85 (John Birkner ‘83), Sarah Maroof (Abdul Maroof), Karen Schroeder-Tutko (David Tutko); grandchildren Patrick Tutko (Aubrey Ferrin-Tutko), Benjamin Tutko, Winter Rose Grablin (Matthew Grablin), Sitara Maroof, and Zarah Maroof; and great grandchildren Iman Jon Tutko, Aunika Tutko, Jahan Tutko, Loralei Tutko, Oliver Tutko, Emery Rose Grablin; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral will take place in 2021. Memorials may be sent to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 128, De Soto, IL 62924-0128; Luther College, 700 College Ave., Decorah, IA 52101; and Wesley Ridge Retirement Community, 2225 Taylor Park Drive, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068.