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Marion Brasher Obituary
Born: January 18, 1936; Utah
Died: March 10, 2021; Spring Valley, IL
Spring Valley, IL – Marion G. Brasher, 85, of Spring Valley, passed away at 1:15 PM on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at his home, following a three year illness.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Marion will be held Monday, March 15, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Nativity of Our Lord Parish (St. Anthony Church) in Spring Valley. The Rev. Scott Potthoff will officiate. Burial will follow at Valley Memorial Park Cemetery. The visitation will be on Monday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the church.The Barto Funeral Home, Spring Valley is assisting. A mask will be required and please abide by Covid restrictions.
He was born on January 18, 1936, in Utah, to Louise Jean Frecchio. He was a member of Nativity of Our Lord Parish in Spring Valley. Marion graduated from Hall High School in 1953 and then Illinois State University. He worked part-time for the Rock Island Railroad during the summers and after college, hebegan his teaching career in Coal City. The following year, he came back to Spring Valley to teach at his alma-mater, Hall High School, where he was involved in coaching, yearbook, and numerous other activities for 32 years, until his retirement. After retiring, he opened the "Valley Roundhouse", his dream model train store. As a lifelong railroad enthusiast, he was a life member of the National Model Railroad Association, a Master Model Railroader, and he held many positions within the organization. He will be greatly missed in the model railroad community.
He is survived by friends.
Marion was preceded in death by his mother, Louise Jean Teele; his stepfather, Harry Teele; and his stepbrother, Harry "Tiny" Teele.
A guestbook may be signed and memories shared at bartofh.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Marion Brasher
Sponsored by Barto Funeral Home - Spring Valley.
Ed Brown
April 1, 2021
I would like to take this time, to say Thank You for all the condolences on Marion Brasher. All the kind words and memories posted here. Please keep Marion and his family in your prayers.
Thank You
Ed Brown
Ed Brown
April 1, 2021
I’ve known Marion for over 50 years. He became extended family to my family. We shared Holidays and always talked about trains. When I first started working on the Rock Island, he would ask me about various engines and colors of stuff. Walking on it daily, I didn’t always notice colors of floors and walkways. He was thorough in details. His most recent models of LaSalle engine-house and Utica scale-house showed this. He always helped me with modeling questions and provided woodworking advice. He also painted the first engine for my model railroad. If it wasn’t for him, I would not have been to all the meets and many model railroads over the years. Riding along to Trost in Chicago was always fun. We did that when he first opened his shop. Running trains in the house and enjoying his mother’s treats for us operators. He even rode the cab with me in Bureau on the 405. Later he gave me a model of that engine.
I am sure I missed something, but Marion was a good friend and mentor. I will miss him. May he Rest In Peace and may all the signals be “high green” on your final run. Missed by me and my family. May God rest your soul.
Ed Brown
Kenard DOLL
March 26, 2021
Hello friends of mr Brasher , Mr. Brasher was my shop teacher 1959 - 1962
he was always nice to me and I alwas learned from him. I did visit Mr. Brasher several times at the train store and I think it gave him great pleasure to visit with me and gave me great pleasue to visit with him and to see the train layout . he was always MR> BRASHER to me. Sorry for your loss.
Damon Cattani
March 18, 2021
I fondly remember Mr. Brasher in many roles at Hall High School, his friendly demeanor and for being our drivers' ed teacher.
Fr. Ronald Margherio
March 17, 2021
I didn't go to Hall High school and so did not have Mr. Brasher as a teacher. Many of my friends went to Hall and I remember them speaking highly of him. They were fortunate to have such a great teacher. May God now welcome him.
Bob Weber
March 16, 2021
Marion, thank you for always having or alloting the time to open your door for the many youth to learn from your experience on The Rock Island and your modelling/layout. You were an inspiration to so many others as well as myself.
What I remember the most during many and many discussions is that you would make us think by answering our questions with a question to get us to think. Of course when you did provide a final answer, it was captured with that raised eyebrow and a slight chuckle.
Great fellowship with you and many of my childhood friends. Rest In Piece Marian
Scott Cavanaugh
March 16, 2021
As a former student, Marion, in my opinion was the only teacher to take a moment and understand what was happening in my world at that time.
I honestly believe those few comments, off handed remarks, and strong suggestions put me on a path to success as I matured and understood better. Marion's ability to be patient with all the chaos swirling around an active wood shop with teenage boys throwing things at each other, sharp bands and blades spinning, and wishing they were somewhere else was truly a sight to witness. Marion pushed me in his subtle own kind of way that I didn't understand at the time. He shared and showed me the craft of wood working that I have carried with me to this day. There was always a calmness when I walked into his shop which was my refuge from a world of crazy teenage boy garbage that goes through our pubescent heads.
Marion taught me discipline the best way he could with the short amount of time he had in an hours worth of woodshop. He never judged, let me learn at my own pace, and was there if I needed help.
I am truly thankful for his presence in my life for those short moments. Thank you for your time, your respect, and thoughtfulness towards me, you made an indelible mark on my life, made me a better person and a better human.
Until the last whistle blows..............
garrett Drozd
March 15, 2021
a great man & model railroad talent lost
Richard Russell
March 15, 2021
Marion was a great man. A friend to all. He will be dearly missed.
Dale Van Der Steeg
March 15, 2021
Very sorry to hear of Marion's passing. He will be missed by many people who shared a common love of railroading. I will always remember our discussions of railroading and model railroading and how he was always available and willing to give advice.
Nate Hess
March 15, 2021
I first met Marion about 15 years ago as a young kid walking into his store. At the time I didn’t have any idea how much knowledge he could pass on as I thought I knew it all. And boy was I wrong. I spent many hours sitting across the counter from him just taking in everything he would offer. I will truly miss swinging by and just killing time weather it be talking about model trains or our trackside adventures. The railfan and model railroad communities lost a great contributor and he will be dearly missed by friends, students, and colleagues. Mr Brasher you have a highball to the gates of heaven. Godspeed
John Stopa
March 14, 2021
Thank you for being my friend.
John Stopa
Scott Lindsey
March 14, 2021
Friends and I got to know Marion well over the past 20 years, and stopped by at least yearly on railfan trips to the area. He was a true gentlemen and I enjoyed hearing his memories of the Rock Island in the region. I will miss stopping by his shop, finding products long out of stock elsewhere, and especially the enjoyable conversations. Hope that he is having fun watching Rock Island trains roll by in heaven now!
Steve Smedley
March 14, 2021
Marion was a wonderful man and friend. He had a great knowledge of the area, was a hoot to visit with and will be missed! Steve Smedley
Dan Bass
March 14, 2021
Marion you will be greatly missed! I've known you for over 30 years and you taught me so much about model railroading and the Rock Island Railroad!
God speed to you my great friend!
Eric Lang
March 13, 2021
Thank you for all.
Edward Johnson
March 13, 2021
To Marion’s Friends,
I am very sad to learn of Marion’s passing. I have known Marion since the 1960’s. One of my memories that stands out happened in June 1968. I was headed back to Peoria, IL from Colorado and stopped at a McDonald’s near Omaha, NE. As I walked in to order food, I met Marion as he came out. As people say “It’s a small world”.
I hope you have many happy memories of Marion. With Deepest Sympathy,
Ed Johnson
Peoria, IL.
Kevin Brock
March 13, 2021
I knew Marion for 51 years. He was my Woodshop Teacher, my freshman year in high school, and my Art Teacher, the next year.
I have always been fascinated by trains. When I learned that he had a model railroad I went to talk to him about it. He was patient, informative and encouraged me to get into modeling. We talked many times. He invited me to join him to go to Swap Meets, NMRA Meets, to ride somewhere to see trains and even invited me along to go to The Signal House in Peoria, a few times. One Thanksgiving Weekend, another friend and I joined him on a journey to Colorado and Wyoming to see the UP Steam Engine 8444 run an excursion.
Marion was a wealth of information, modeling experience and had many rail travel experiences. He was always eager and happy to share. He was a friend, teacher, historian and mentor; for myself and for many others. Most times when I returned to Spring Valley to visit my mom, I made time to visit Marion at The Roundhouse. He was always happy to see me and talk; even if I didn't buy anything that trip.
His passing is a great loss to me, his circle of friends the model railroading & railfan communities and the Illinois Valley community in general. He will be missed by many.
Rest in Peace, Marion. Enjoy your ride on the "Last Train to Glory".
Owen Byrne
March 13, 2021
I will miss you good friend and be thinking of you. i wlll also miss the times i just stopped in the store for a half a hour now and then. When at a convention i would always look for you,it was easy there would be many guys around you talking trains. The 60 some years I have known you were great. Owen Byrne
Paul Meier
March 13, 2021
Rest in peace Marion. Many good memories of you at your shop and the NMRA.
Kathy Sabatini-Yerly
March 13, 2021
Such great memories of Mr. Basher and his family. He was a dedicated teacher and loved what he did!! Thoughts and prayers for him.
Larry Nelson
March 13, 2021
Marion you were a great friend and influence to me and so many others. You made me a better modeler and a better person. I'm going to miss you, but you will always be nearby in my thoughts.
Ken Kotecki
March 13, 2021
The friendship was long, full of upset and downs, but endured over 65 years.
Rest in PEACE my old friend.
Harold Krewer
March 12, 2021
Marion, you were a teacher and mentor to thousands of high school students through the decades. While I was never officially one of your students, you were no less of a teacher and mentor to me.
My Dad, while a wonderful and loving father, didn't really share my fervent interest in model trains. You made sure I learned how to build my rolling stock from kits, repair broken parts, the value of buying quality products that would last and, most importantly, that taking your time and being careful on a project would pay dividends down the road. Okay, SOMETIMES that lesson was taught by watching you struggle with fixing derailments on a section of track installed in haste prior to an open house, but that didn't make the lesson any less valuable.
I am also indebted to you for passing along your knowledge of photography. I think it's fairly certain to say without your advice and encouragement I would not have pursued a career in that field and spent over 20 years working for publications like the News-Tribune and The Daily Times. A nice side benefit of covering the basketball tournaments at Hall was getting to chat with you on the sidelines during timeouts.
You may not have left a family legacy of children and grandchildren, but you certainly did your part to help raise several generations of kids into fine men and women. That is a legacy most of us can only hope to attain.
All of your railroad friends bid you green signals and safe travels on the train that's bound for glory, no doubt routed over the Rock Island Lines...
Bill Lorence
March 12, 2021
Godspeed old friend. You were a great friend to many and I was proud to call you a fellow MMR.
Bill
George Casford
March 12, 2021
Godspeed Marion. You were a good Friend and Teacher and will be greatly missed. Thanks for your friendship thru the years...
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