Marilyn J. Haskins

Marilyn J. Haskins, 78, of Palatine, IL. Born June 10, 1945, in Algona, IA, passed away August 1, 2023. Beloved wife of Robert F. Haskins. Loving mother of David (Diane) and Daniel (Mindy) Haskins. Cherished grandmother of Mila, William, Georgia, Chloe, and Lexi. Dear sister of Marie Ann (Fred) Nesheim.
Marilyn grew up on a farm in Renwick, Iowa, a small town in north central Iowa. After high school graduation she went to Waldorf Jr. College for two years to become a medical secretary. She used her secretarial skills to get several interesting jobs and opportunities to travel. Growing up on a working farm with livestock, there was little time for vacations. Ready to explore the world, she took a position as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. She worked at the University for seven years. She met her husband Bob at the University of Wisconsin in 1970. After graduation Bob joined the Peace Corps in Nairobi, Kenya. After a visit to Kenya on vacation, Marilyn joined Bob in Kenya. She got a job as a secretary for the World Health Organization. Bob & Marilyn returned to the US in 1973 and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Marilyn got a job at an insurance company. David and Daniel were born in Decator, Georgia. After 7 years in Atlanta, Bob accepted a job with his company in Amman, Jordan and in 1982 they moved the family to Amman, Jordan.
Marilyn took care of the apartment and was active in the American School. At the end of the three-year assignment they moved to Palatine, Illinois. Marilyn worked at Virginia Lake School as a secretary in the office where she worked for 15 years. She took an active role in all the boys' activities. She was a team mom and a den leader. Marilyn attended all the boys' activities while they were in school. She never missed a ball game, swim meet or band concert. She would keep the score at basketball games and all the parents would sit next to her to find out how many points or fouls their son had. She also kept score at baseball games. She had her own method for keeping score. Unorthodox, but she had it all down in her own way. If she missed a game, it was because there was another game at the same time. Her two sons were Eagle Scouts. For years she did not get to take a family vacation. Someone was always at camp or on a camping trip. She never complained. "We'll take a vacation when the kids are gone."
In 1994 she became the host parent for Gry, a Danish foreign exchange student for a school year. Marilyn and Gry had a great time and Marilyn was happy to have another woman in the house.
In 2005, Bob had the opportunity to move to Cairo, Egypt for a one-year assignment. Marilyn was all on board and couldn't wait. There was no way Marilyn would stay home. Marilyn adapted and made their apartment a home away from home. She became the tour guide for friends and colleagues who came to Cairo to visit. After Bob retired in 2006. An opportunity came to move to Abu Dhabi for 4 months and in 2007 a chance to move to Doha, Qatar for 4 months. Again, Marilyn was all on board. She never met a person she did not like. She had an unassuming ease and accepted everyone for who they were. In every country she lived or visited, she made many friends. Not a bad legacy for a girl from a small town in Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Marilyn's name to Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603.
Visitation Monday, August 7, 2023, from 3-8 PM at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Hwy, Palatine. Interment will be held in Renwick, Iowa.