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Marilyn Gehlbach Obituary
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
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Marilyn Gehlbach
Susan Dunlap
November 26, 2010
Such a tragic loss. Marilyn was a wonderful person and supporter of children, music, and community. I had the pleasure of knowing and working with her on Music Day/Symphony on the Green for many, many years. She and Dr. Gehlbach are very special people. RIP Marilyn. My thoughts and prayers are with the Gehlbach family during this time.
Steven Rigney
November 24, 2010
Marilyn Gehlbach's dedication to students and education will be long remembered by local teachers. She is truly missed. My sympathies and condolences to her family. Your loss is ours, too.
Jon Green
November 23, 2010
Sorry for your loss. Jon and Karen Green
Kelly Scheideman-Ward
November 23, 2010
I have been lucky enough to know the Gehlbach-ers for as long as I can remember. Marilyn was a wonderful bit of sunshine in my youth & all through out my life. She will be missed greatly.
Steve & Fran Mattern
November 22, 2010
While we didn't know Marilyn, we want to add our condolences. Her son, Clark and family live up our street and we've enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow from infants.
She sounds like she was a "one of a kind" woman. Our prayers are with her special family during this sad time.
Cathy Asbury
November 19, 2010
What a smile! When my folks got to know the Gelbach's from church, they always asked how Marilyn was doing. Always felt a tremendous bond: just like Marilyn and Charlie - my dad had Parkinson's, had the same surgery, and my folks started a support group at the Visalia UMC... they thought the world of both Marilyn and Charlie. Dad's gone now, but Mom always wondered how Marilyn was holding up... our hearts go out to the whole family...
Randall Olson
November 19, 2010
I was honored to serve as Superintendent of the Placer Union High School District while Marilyn was a Board member. Marilyn Gehlbach was dedicated to helping create quality schools and services to the students of our community. We could always count on her integrity, honesty, intellectual curiosity, and delight in celebrating our success.
The Auburn community is better for her living here and working to improve the quality of life in the Auburn area.
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