VAN WAGENEN, Marilene
Farel
Feb. 17, 1915 - Nov. 3, 2012
Marilene was born on February 17, 1915 to Rev. Robert Farel and Maye Schrader Farel, and was raised in Storm Lake, Iowa. She graduated from Buena Vista University, and completed her graduate study in education at the University of Minnesota. Her teaching career began at the high school level, where she taught english and drama, and later transferred, in 1949, to Sacramento City College, where she taught business education for 15 years. In 1964, she began her administrative career as the personnel director of the Los Rios Community College District, where she served until her retirement in 1979. She married the love of her life, Rulon Van Wagenen, in 1950, and they enjoyed 42 wonderful years together. Marilene balanced the joys and responsibilities of a career educator and administrator, wife, mother, grandmother, great and great-great-grandmother, with a style and grace that was both inspirational and contagious. She enjoyed keen interests in travel, photography, gardening, natural history, and the performing arts.
Marilene passed away on November 3, 2012 in Elk Grove, CA, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband Rulon and step-son Eugene. She is survived by her sister Ruth, her step-sons Stephen (Kennen) and James (Shirley), her son Robert (Elizabeth), 20 grandchildren, 67 great-grandchildren and 22 great, great-grandchildren. Marilene will be remembered for her humility, generosity, kindness, and her love of family and friends. She was loved and respected by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Funeral services will be held for family and friends on Saturday, November 17th at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church, 2324 L St., Sacramento.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
6 Entries
Mrs. Van Wagenen provided me with the opportunity to start my Los Rios career in the Personnel office and I will always be grateful and appreciative of her leadership, friendliness and overall grace and humanity.
Leslie Dougherty
June 22, 2013
During the 1950's I was fortunate to have Marilene Van Wagenen for a teacher at Sacramento City College, and we stayed in contact for many years. She was definitely a person to admire, and had an important role in my life and career. Such an inspiration! I still remember her frequently saying "I am counting on you." Those words often made me follow through on assignments that I really didn't want to do. She definitely made the world a better place. I will always remember her as one of the most important persons in my life.
January 10, 2013
Iwas fortunate enough to have her as my business teacher at city college in the 60,s. She was a great teacher! I went on to a career in business and used much of what she taught us in school. Bob Holt
November 21, 2012
I had the pleasure of working with Marilene while she was the personnel director for the Los Rios Community College District. I so admired her professional and personal attributes and enjoyed the seven years we worked together.
Joan Klint
November 13, 2012
Ivey Adell Lambert fondly remembered Marilene and their 1950's Sacramento Junior College office-mate, Jesse Amaratti, about three weeks ago, and wished me to call Marilene at that time. Although Ivey is also now critically ill and unable to comment personally, she was certainly thinking about one of her best friends and colleagues from one of the happiest times of their lives, as they shared their favorite memories of the births of their sons, the growth of their families, and their adventure of teaching together.
I always remember Marilene for her beauty, grace and smile, and for her passion for making all things lovely in her sight. God truly blessed her, and blest others through her presence among us.
Kent Lambert
November 12, 2012
My sincerest condolences to the family of Mrs. Van Wagenen. I had the privlidge of working on her "rickity" sprinklers on 13th Street for many years. Whilst I am paid for toiling in the mud and hot sun,one of the benefits of such work is meeting remarkable customers such as Marilnene who take pride in their home and garden. Now she has completed life's cycle. Godspeed Marilene.
Joe "The Sprinklerman" Ross
November 12, 2012
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