Mariann Marcks

Mariann (Eliason) Marcks, age 92, passed away on Good Friday, April 18, 2025. The daughter of Hilmar and Martha (Baeb) Eliason, she was born on June 16, 1932 in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. Mariann grew up helping on her family’s dairy farm, which had been one of the first Norwegian settlements in the Ashwaubenon community. Mariann was proud of her family’s heritage.

She married Emerson Marcks in 1952, whose job carried them and their 3 sons from Green Bay to Milwaukee to Georgia, before he retired from U.S. Steel in Atlanta in 1984. They relocated back to Green Bay in 1997.

Mariann was extremely creative and talented in so many different areas. She was a wonderful artist, a poet, and a gifted storyteller. She wrote many stories of growing up on a dairy farm, hilarious tales of raising 3 rambunctious boys, and a book about the life of her Norwegian grandmother coming to America to settle in Green Bay. Mariann loved to paint and do all kinds of needlework for which she was recognized and won awards. She created many beautiful watercolor paintings, afghans, and stitchwork pieces that she lovingly shared with family and friends over the years. Mariann was a master pie maker and also made heavenly cinnamon rolls which were loved by all. She supported her family by working at various jobs over the years ranging from school secretary to nail technician. She also volunteered her time in many ways, including Jay’s classroom at Pioneer with poetry units and teaching rudimentary Norwegian to the children during Pioneer’s International Fair. She also shared her love of history by giving talks about early members of Ashwaubenon through the Village’s cemetery walk program.

Mariann’s grandparents and parents were founding members of St. John Lutheran Church in Ashwaubenon. Mariann was baptised, confirmed, and married at St. John. Her Christian faith was always an extremely important part of her life.

Mariann is survived by her sons Jay (Helen) Marcks of Green Bay and Keith (Sherry) Marcks of Atlanta; her grandchildren Jason, Jake, Amanda, Drew, Derek, and Dylan; her great grandchildren Selah, Eden, Charley, Mia, Chantz, Kiley, and Raelynn; and her sister Jean Eliason. She was preceded in death by her husband Emerson, their oldest son Steven, her parents Hilmar and Martha and her brother Phillip Eliason.

A memorial service to celebrate Mariann’s life will be held on Saturday, May 10 at her beloved St. John Lutheran Church, 2700 Babcock Road, Ashwaubenon. Visitation at 10:00 AM, Service at 11:00 AM.

The family would like to thank the staff of Preceptor Hospice Care for their incredible compassion and loving care of Mariann.