Marilyn Jean Hill

Marilyn Jean Hill died on Monday, October 27, 2025. She was born on June 26, 1929 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the daughter of Grace Evelyn (nee Jones) and Kenneth Leonard Thompson.

She graduated Neenah High School and Carroll College in Wisconsin. She married Richard Earl Hill on June 5, 1951. Marilyn and Dick became the proud parents of five children: Mark Richard Hill (wife Patricia Eisenach) of Jacksonville, Florida; the late Kenneth Lyle Hill (wife Susan McDaniel) of Minneapolis,Minnesota; Richard Earl Hill Jr (wife Lynn Hellhake) of Glenbeulah, Wisconsin; Joy Anne Williams (husband Gary, deceased) of Port Charlotte, Florida; and Sarah Jean Pasierb (husband Patrick, deceased) of Saint Louis, Missouri.

The extended family includes grandchildren and great grandchildren. In Michigan, Mark Hill Jr. and wife Anna with children, Charlotte, Alexander, and Theodore. In Washington state, Beth Pothen with husband Patrick and children Grace and Cody. In North Carolina, Katherine Dragga with spouse Charlotte. In Minnesota, Amy Cosimini with husband Charles and sons Lucca and Leo. In Wisconsin, Grant Hill with wife Melissa and sons James and Evan. Also in Wisconsin, Michael Travis and his daughter Willow. In Missouri, Kelsey Gant with husband Sean and sons Penn, Callahan and Crew. Alaina Scherer with husband Ben and children Dean and Scarlett. Also in Missouri, Brett Pasierb.

Marilyn treasured her close relationships with her sister Kay and brother-in-law Don (deceased) of West Bend, Wisconsin, as well as many cousins.

After her children were all in school, Marilyn went to Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she earned her M.A. Years later while living in Huron, South Dakota she won a Bush Leadership Fellowship which allowed her to complete academic courses required for a doctorate at the University of Minnesota, (ABD).

Marilyn's career choices were influenced by the many moves and positions of her husband. As a Presbyterian pastor, he served churches in Grand Ridge, Illinios, Winneconne, Wisconsin, Galesville, Wisconsin, and Stevens Point, Wisconsin. When she lived in Stevens Point, Wisconsin she directed an Upward Bound program with Menominee tribe.

As her husband moved into academia serving as Asst. to the President at Carroll College, then president of Huron College and later president of Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Marilyn taught sociology at Concordia College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Huron College and Lakeland College. She retired after 10 years with Donohue Engineering having been a social impact analyst and training manager at the firm.

Marilyn thoroughly appreciated her retirement years as a member of Pilgrim United Church of Christ on Port Charlotte, Florida holding positions of Sunday School teacher & Stephen Minister, to chair of fundraising for the Community Center where the library carries her name. She served a term as Moderator of the church and in 2004 was named statewide Lay Woman of the Year by the Florida UCC Women. She began a program STAIR (Start the Adventure in Reading) in the church for second grade students attending Deep Creek Elementary school.

She was a sixty-year member of PEO and served as president of the Florida chapter GA and PEO twice. She maintained many college friendships, especially with Delta Zeta sorority sisters. After moving to South Port Square, she enjoyed leadership roles including that as president of the South Port Square Residents' Council.

In addition to her husband who died on May 18th, 2016, and her parents, others who have gone before her are two brothers, Charles Kenneth Thompson and Keith Robert Thompson and one infant son, Stephen Hill and her grown son Kenneth Lyle Hill.

A memorial service will be held in Marilyn's honor on a date to be announced by her family at the Townhall of South Port Square in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Burial will be at the cemetery of Immanuel United Church of Christ near Lakeland University, Plymouth, Wisconsin.