Marilyn Jean Gehlbach

Marilyn Jean Gehlbach
5/7/1934-11/13/2010


Marilyn Gehlbach passed away on November 13, 2010 at Auburn Faith Hospital from pneumonia at the age of 76. She courageously battled Parkinson's Disease for 21 years. She was born in Lansing, Michigan and moved with her family to Southern California in her junior year of high school. She attended UCLA where she met her prince charming and got her B.A. degree in Marketing. Marilyn and Charlie were married on February 22, 1957. After Charlie finished Medical School, they moved to Denver for his internship and onto Austin, Texas for two years, In July, 1962, they found Auburn, California where Charlie joined the Auburn Medical Clinic and Marilyn and Charlie raised their family. Marilyn earned the nickname "Voluntaire Extraordinaire" for:
E.V. Cain PTC for three years:
1980 organized Placer High School Music Boosters Club:
1981 co-originated "Auburn Music Day" and chaired for 16 years:
transitioned Music Day into :"Music on the Green":
1983 coordinated Sacramento Symphony Concerts for Youth:
1983 Trustee Placer Union High School District Board for 15 years:
1987 member of Auburn Symphony Steering Committee:
member of the Symphony Board of Directors, as well as treasurer for 8 years:
1988 originated Library Garden Theater "Summer Series":
1990 Auburn Community Concert Associate Board of Directors:
1994 Pioneer United Methodist Church Building Committee:
1996 Auburn Parkinson's Support Group member and treasurer:
1999 awarded McCann Award:
2003 awarded Placer County Commemorative Coin Hero Award:
2000 participant in experimental research for "Deep Brain Stimulation' surgery at UCSF for Parkinson's Disease:

She was a loving and supportive wife for over 53 years, and wonderful mother to her 4 children: Lars (Sally), Garth (Chris), Suzanne, and Clark (Lynn). She was a warm and gentle grandmother to: Nicole, Daniel, Emily, and Gretchen, Bridget, Mitchell, and Samantha, Julia, and Erin, Aidan, Bryce. She was a loving sister to Corky and her nieces, nephews, and cousins. Marilyn was gentle and kind, but also had an unquenchable inner fire, determination and grit. She brought out the best in everyone. She was loved by all who knew her and her list of friends will never end. She will be dearly missed by all, but not forgotten.
Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. at Pioneer United Methodist Church at 1338 Lincoln Way, Auburn. A reception will be from 2:00-6:00 P.M. at The Ridge Golf Club at 2020 Golf Course Road, Auburn.
Donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (for Parkinson's Disease), Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY, 10008. Please sign the online guestbook at chapelofthehills-auburn