Marlene Atz

1938 - 2026

Marlene A. Atz, age 87of Freeport, IL, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Parkview Home.  She was surrounded and supported by her three children in her passing.  She was born in Freeport on December 20, 1938, to the late Clarence and Rayma (Schuldt) Groezinger.  She attended and graduated from Stockton High School in 1956.  In her early years, as the oldest sibling in her family, she was steadfast in helping her father work on the farm.  She told many stories of her life on the farm before the family moved into town.  Such stories also included the time she spent on her grandparents’ farm (Martin and Minnie Schuldt) where she was known to have a mischievous and inquisitive side to her personality.  It was evident that she dearly loved her parents, whom she lost as a young adult.  Marlene married Marvin Atz on May 21, 1961, at Christ Lutheran Church in Stockton, IL.  She was a devoted spouse for more than 55 years.

In Marlene’s younger years she enjoyed spending time with family, excelling in sewing, cooking, baking, and even roller-skating where she met her husband, Marvin.  Marlene worked at Micro Switch in the mailroom prior to the birth of her first child (Cindy).  As Marlene’s children became college age, she returned to work in the food service industry, working to ensure all three of her children would be able to attend college.  She worked for C.L. Swanson in the cafeteria at the Micro Switch plant by the fairgrounds in Freeport.  She later transitioned to working in the kitchen at St. Francis School and lastly moved on to work in the kitchen at Parkview Home from which she retired.  She made lifelong friends with those she worked with over the years.

Marlene was a former member of Christ Lutheran Church in Stockton, and a current member of First Lutheran Church in Freeport.  Her faith in God was strong, important in all her choices living life as a Christian and provided her with great strength throughout her life.  She was an incredibly kind and humble person, never looking to boast or brag.  She loved family reunions, and spending time with all her family – cooking and baking for countless gatherings and holidays over the years.  She is famously known in her circle for the best homemade noodles and worked hard to pass that tradition down to the grandchildren willing to learn (and a few have become pie bakers as well).  Marlene loved caring for and spending time with her grandchildren.  She enjoyed plastic cross-stich projects, crocheted many blankets, sewed intricate barbie clothes and matching outfits for her children, and mended numerous rips or holes in various items or worn out stuffies over the years.  One of Marlene’s favorite hobbies was investigating and documenting family ancestry roots, along with scrapbooking, clipping newspapers, attending auctions, collecting antiques, and making sure to get in her hour walk each day (let us not forget how she loved a good garage sale).  She was always young at heart, decorating her home for the holiday at hand.  She will be dearly missed.

Marlene is survived by her daughters, Cindy (Jeff) Cowman of Freeport and Lynda (Brian Dahlk) Atz of Madison, WI; son, Terry (Deleana) Atz of Freeport; grandchildren, Tyler (Emily Li) Cowman, Emily (Doug Janicke) Cowman, Kirsti (Geoff) Williams, Heath Atz, Hallie Atz, Graham Atz, Paige Dahlk, and Skylar Dahlk; great grandchildren, Adeline Williams, Hayleigh Williams, Linkin Williams, and Ziva Williams; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Marvin Atz, sisters Sandra Jones and Carolyn Groezinger, both of Stockton, and an infant sister.

The funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 31st, at 11:00 am at Christ Lutheran Church in Stockton with visitation beginning at 9:00 am. Interment will take place at Ladies Union Cemetery in Stockton. A memorial fund has been established in her name.