Marilyn Jean Day

Marilyn Jean Day, age 86, of Brownsdale, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Marilyn was born on November 8, 1939, to Delbert and Doris (Bloom) Arbuckle. She graduated from Winona High School. After graduation, Marilyn resided in many different rural Minnesota towns while raising her children. She ended up settling in Brownsdale, Minnesota where she met her sweetheart, James Day and they were married on March 23, 1977. Marilyn worked as a telephone operator and was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church. She belonged to various clubs such as ladies aid, Red Hat Society, 500 card club, and the “dingalings” which were a group of lady telephone operators. She also spent her time as a Girl Scout Leader. Marilyn clearly never sat still. When she wasn’t participating in her clubs, you would find her stamping and making greeting cards, cross stitching or in the garden with her vegetables and flowers. However, the time she most treasured was playing games with her kids and grandkids.

Survivors include her husband, James Day; children, Randy (Theresa) Ehlenfeldt, Vicki (Daniel) Gonzales, and Tracy Schrepfer (Anthony); step-children, Jamey Pratt and Jill (Carrie) Pratt; grandchildren, Rene, Westin, Tristan, Jeffery, Amy and Timothy; great-grandchildren, Arianna, Parker, Richard, Allie, Hank, Nolan, Jack, Brooks, Mack, and Theo; sisters, Betty (Vic) Hahn and Rita (Kelly) Rose; brothers-in-law James Valiant, Delbert Passe, and Farell (Dawnya) Day; sister-in-law, Fawn Godwin; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Delbert and Doris Arbuckle; sisters, Lois Passe and Ruth Valiant.

A funeral service for Marilyn will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brownsdale, Minnesota. The visitation will take place from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Brownsdale, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Brownsdale Fire Department. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes are assisting the family with arrangements.