Marilyn Steele

The family is sad to share the news of the death of Marilyn Jean Smith Steele on December 30, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona.

Marilyn was born in Melrose Park, IL on May 13, 1930, to Harold E. Smith, MD, and Helen M. Smith. During the summer months of her college years, Marilyn volunteered for and resided at Erie Neighborhood House in Chicago where she developed her sense of social justice that she passed along to her own children. She also learned a love of teaching children there, and went on to teach kindergarten in Elmhurst, IL.

She met the love her life, Howard Steele, while attending DePauw University, and later graduated from National College of Education. Marilyn and Howard were married in Oak Park, IL, on August 9, 1952, and began their family in Glen Ellyn, IL. The family moved to Fort Wayne, IN, in 1964. Following Howard's retirement in 1986, they began snow-birding to Tucson, AZ, where they moved permanently in 2007.

Marilyn was an avid history buff her entire life and founded the Salt Creek Civil War Roundtable in 1962. In Fort Wayne, she volunteered at the Historical Society, including writing several children's booklets on local history. While living in Fort Wayne she continued her commitment to social service with the Riverhaven Center and serving on the board and as president of the Christmas Bureau.

A passionate love of classical music led Marilyn to volunteer extensively for the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and later to serve the Tucson Symphony Orchestra League and on the TSO board for many years.

Marilyn was an enthusiastic reader her entire life, reading multiple books each week, and active in several book groups until the time of her death. She instilled her love of reading in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Church life was important to Marilyn. She was active at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church and First Wayne Street United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, and later at Catalina United Methodist Church in Tucson.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her brother, Hugh A. Smith, MD. Survivors include her husband of 71 years, Howard; children Barbara (Robert) Kniskern and Todd (Lisa Liechty) Steele; grandchildren Robin (Paul) Hilliard, Ian (Tracy) Steele, Nicole (Brent) Sillery, Grant (Beth) Steele, Lindsey (Ryan) Scherer, and Hope (Jerry Chen) Steele; and five great grandchildren.

A private celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Tucson Symphony Orchestra or Catalina United Methodist Church. And Marilyn would encourage you to read a book to a child!