Marilyn E. DeKeyrel

1939 - 2025

Marilyn E. DeKeyrel

August 20, 1939 - October 1, 2025

Marilyn E. DeKeyrel, age 86, of Illinois City, Illinois, passed away peacefully on October 1st, 2025, at Trinity Hospital in Rock Island, Illinois, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on August 20, 1939, in Muscatine, Iowa, to Ralph and Edna Zaehringer, Marilyn lived a life marked by grace, resilience, and unwavering devotion to those she loved. She was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother whose warmth and friendship extended far beyond her family. Marilyn touched the hearts of everyone she met, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, strength, and love.

Her presence was a gift, and her memory will continue to inspire all who knew her. Marilyn will be remembered for her "family first" mentality and her deep capacity for forgiveness. She loved hosting family gatherings for any occasion-Halloween parties, Thanksgiving dinners, and especially Christmas, her favorite time of year, when the entire family would gather in the shop to celebrate with food, laughter, and gifts.

In her spare time, Marilyn found joy in baking. While raising her four children alone, she taught herself to decorate birthday cakes, which soon evolved into graduation cakes and eventually elaborate wedding cakes for every family member who needed one. Her creations, complete with bridges and waterfalls, became legendary, and she proudly turned her hobby into a small business. She was, without question, a cake master. When she could no longer make cakes, she continued baking cookies and sharing them with her friends at the Muscatine YMCA. She always looked at her friends as an extension to her already large family.

Marilyn began her working days at Maid-Rite in Muscatine, Iowa. After becoming a stay-at-home mother, she later returned to the workforce following her divorce, working at Louis Rich Turkey in West Liberty and eventually at Hon Industries, where she would retire several years later.

She is survived by her loving husband of 37 years, James DeKeyrel; her eldest son, John Mills of Conesville, Iowa; her son, Richard (Lyn) Mills of Leesburg, Florida; her daughter, Joan Parchert of Leesburg, Florida; her son, Clint DeKeyrel of Taylor Ridge, Illinois; and her daughter, Nikki (Todd) Fourdyce of Arroyo Grande, California. Marilyn leaves behind 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one fifth-generation grandchild, her lifelong best friend Nancy Coulter who was always there for her in a time of need, and her favorite companion George, who will miss his car rides to town. All who knew her will treasure her memory forever and be better for having known her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Edna Zaehringer; her son, Gaylord Mills of Thornburg, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Debra Mills; her brothers, Ralph, Denny and Larry Zaehringer; her sister, Donna Bert; her brother-in-law, Dean DeKeyrel and his wife, Mary; brother-in-law, Steve Goodnight; brother-in-law, Carl Brady; and her parents-in-law, Verlea and Louie DeKeyrel.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 201 4th Avenue, Milan, IL 61264. A visitation will be held from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the funeral home. Graveside services will follow at Illinois City Cemetery, with a Celebration of Life at the Illinois City Town Hall.

Her life and legacy will be remembered by all who knew her-as a woman of resilience, generosity, and unyielding love for her family.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain! For the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:4

Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan

(309) 786-5421