Marjorie P. Sobotka

Marjorie Priscilla Sobotka (née Johnson), age 79, passed away on April 8, 2025. She leaves behind a lifetime of happy memories, challenges met with toughness and gusto, a covetable recipe box, the best-maintained riding lawn mower you have ever seen, and very specific instructions that no one should see her dead. Marge was born to Miles and Patricia Johnson in Detroit in 1945. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University in 1967, and worked as a speech therapist in the Warren Woods School District until the birth of her first child. Several years after the birth of her second child, she started volunteering at Jack Harvey Elementary School. She later resumed her career as a special education paraprofessional at Walsh Elementary School in Sterling Heights.
She married Stanley Sobotka, a fellow educator, in 1971, and spent 31 years joyful years together until his passing. Over the years, they weathered numerous cross country road trips to see the natural, cultural and historical wonders of the United States; simultaneously battling cancer; and over thirty years of Detroit Lions season tickets.
Marge is preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister (Marcia). She is survived by her sister Marylu; twin brother Jon (Barbara); daughters Stacy and Suzanne (Albert); brothers-in law David (Kim) and Arvid; sister-in-law Sharon (Lee); nieces Stefanie, Candice, Kristin and Christine; nephews Eric, Matthew and Chad; several great nieces and nephews; and countless friends she met through her college years, teaching career, and neighborhood.
Marge loved her garden and the birds that were drawn to it, so please leave the flowers growing wild for all to enjoy. Memorials can instead be sent to the Sterling Heights Public Library (either Friends of the Library or Memorial and Honor Book Program) or Forgotten Harvest food bank.
A celebration of life will be held at Lynch and Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road, Clawson on Thursday, May 29 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. A sharing of memories will be held at 4:00 p.m.