Marilyn A. Tye

Marilyn Ann Tye, 73, of Menomonie succumbed to pancreatic cancer and passed away Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at home surrounded by family.

She was born Seot. 13, 1942, in Fort Wayne, Ind., only child of Gerhard and Flora Werner. She attended Bethlehem Lutheran Grade School and graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne. She attended Indiana University and was employed by WKJG-TV as receptionist and occasional on-air personality.

Marilyn and Danny (Dan) M. Tye were married June 13, 1964 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne. They lived in various Indiana cities, including Kokomo, Richmond, and Greensfork, where they raised three sons on a five acre mini-farm. She graduated with a marketing degree from Ivy Tech College-Kokomo. Her work there included newspaper reporter and director of the Tipton, Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

They moved to Menomonie in 1990, Marilyn having been selected as the first executive director of Main Street Menomonie, Inc., and Dan for an executive position at CVTC, Eau Claire. In 1997, she received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Ivy Tech College-Kokomo.

Upon her retirement in 2000, she led fundraising to support area school music through the Drums Along the Red Cedar stadium musical event in Menomonie, benefiting the Community Foundation of Dunn County. She led the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA), where she was choir director for nearly 20 years, also serving as a lay minister, having graduated in 2002 from the denomination's Lay School of Ministry.

Over the years, she served in numerous church, school, and community service and leadership positions, and appeared in key, supporting, and chorus roles in several community theater productions in both Fort Wayne and Menomonie, but her greatest joy was her three sons and numerous grandchildren.

Marilyn is survived by her husband of 52 years; sons, Andrew (Kathleen) of Indianapolis, Ind., Matthew (Amy) of Forest Lake, Minn., and Stephen (Laurie) of Roseville, Minn.; sister-in-law, Karen Tye of St. Louis, Mo.; grandchildren, Keith, Benjamin, Sarah, Kenny, Cassandra, Chelsea, Ethan, Elauria and Elias Tye, Angela Craig and Zoe Hopkins-Hile; step-grandchildren, Alexander and Haley Bury; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Keith and Roberta Tye; grandchildren, Eliana Tye, Lauren Tye, and Emily Tye; daughter-in-Law, Beverly Tye; brother-in-law, Brenton Dodge; namesake aunt, Ann Peterson; and several other aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at Christ Lutheran Church, Menomonie, with Pastor Jeanne Warner officiating. There will be visitation 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Olson Funeral Home, Menomonie, and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Christ Lutheran Church, The Drums Along the Red Cedar Youth Music Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of Dunn County, or the cancer research and support charity of the donor's choice are welcomed.

To share a memory, please visit obituaries at olsonfuneral.com.