Marlene Pool

Marlene M. Pool, 76, of Grand Island died on Monday, July 23, 2012, at Wedgewood Care Center, with her family at her side.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall. Minister Melvin M. Addy will officiate.

Private family inurnment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Curran Funeral Chapel.

Mrs. Pool was born on May 1, 1936, in Denver to Ellery and Ella (Kruse) Hooper.

She married Morris "Moe" Pool on Oct. 20, 1957, at Grand Island.

Survivors of the immediate family include her husband; two daughters and one son-in-law, Laura Pool of Grand Island and Lynda and Kirk Vonderlage of Grand Island; one son, Steven Pool of Lincoln; one brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Linda Hooper of Beatrice; and one sister, Nadine Schlaich of Aurora.

Others left to cherish her memory include her grandchildren, Tyler Pool, Travis Pool, Tucker Pool, Trey Pool, Logan Tignor and Alicia Knott; and one great-granddaughter, Delia Knott.

Marlene grew up in Denver, Lincoln and Grand Island. She graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1953. She continued her education at Kearney State College, completing her teaching certificate in 1955. She taught second grade at North Platte for one year and taught at Gates Grade School in Grand Island for one year also.

She and Moe lived in Grand Island, and Marlene returned to Kearney State College, completing her bachelor of arts degree in 1958. She was a substitute teacher for the Grand Island Public Schools for four years before returning to Kearney to complete her special education endorsement. She was instrumental in the development of the special education program at Connell Grade School.

She again returned to Kearney State College, completing her fine arts endorsement. She taught art at Clarks Junior-Senior High School for several years. Marlene was a caregiver for several years for her daughter, who was injured in an accident. She attended a nail art course in Denver, and upon completion, she owned and operated Fantasy Nails for four years.

Marlene was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She left her footprint on each of their hearts. She loved music, was a pianist herself and made it a point to expose each of her grandchildren to the arts. She enjoyed traveling, flower gardening and was an accomplished artist herself, having showed her artwork all over the state.

She was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall, the Grand Island Art Club and Grand Island Sketch Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Richard Hooper.

Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.

Online condolences may be given and Marlene's video tribute viewed at www.curranfuneralchapel.com

Sign the guestbook at theindependent.com/obits.