Marlys Irene (née Wilcox) Lundeen passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on November 2nd, 2024 while in hospice care at Eagle Ridge Memory Care in Osceola, WI. She was born on January 31st, 1934, the eldest child of the late Royal and Doris (née Lantz) Wilcox in the living quarters above the old Sunrise Mercantile Store in Sunrise, MN. Raised in Sunrise, Marlys attended grades 1—8 at the Sunrise School and graduated from North Branch High School in 1951. Following her high school graduation, Marlys worked at the First National Bank in St. Paul, MN until her marriage on October 18th, 1952 to the love of her life, Gerald Lundeen, in Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at Lake Crystal, Minnesota. Together she and Jerry raised five children while residing first in Saint Paul and then in Center City, Minnesota.

In the early 1960’s, Marlys began work as a Nurse’s Aide at St. John’s Hospital in St. Paul where she worked until June of 1966, when she and her family moved to Center City, whereupon, she continued her work as a Nurse’s Aid at the former Chisago Lakes Hospital (today’s Fairview Medical Clinic) and later at Fairview Lakes Hospital (today’s M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center) in Wyoming, MN until her retirement in 1999. Her caring and compassionate nature was very much appreciated by her patients as well as her co-workers.

While raising her family and working as a Nurse’s Aide, Marlys also loved spending time with her mom, which included weekly appointments with their hairdresser and throughout each summer they canned, pickled, and froze produce from the one-acre vegetable garden that the family tended. Marlys’ greatest joy was raising her children and she loved helping them with their schoolwork, encouraging their studies and supporting them in all their extracurricular school activities. This loving support later extended to her beloved grandchildren. Upon moving to Center City In 1966, the family joined Trinity Lutheran Church in Lindstrom, MN, where she saw all of her children confirmed and where she remained a member until her death. After selling the family home in Center City, Jerry and Marlys spent their last years together residing in St. Croix Falls. Marlys has been a resident of Eagle Ridge Memory Care since 2020.

Marlys was a loving wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was friends with many and a joy to all she met. Marlys was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandsons: Trevor and Mason Lundeen, brother: Mike (Arlene) Wilcox and sister-in-law: Betty Wilcox. She is survived by her children: Gary (Beth) Lundeen, Debra Lundeen, Barbara Hansen (Dave Mellgren), Gregory (Dottie) Lundeen and James (Jennifer) Lundeen, 15 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, brother: Rod Wilcox; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Marlys is dearly missed but remains with us in memories we hold fast.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 9th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lindstrom with Rev. Andrew Tengwall officiating with a luncheon to follow. Visitation will be held for the hour prior to services at the church on Saturday and following the luncheon, interment will take place at the Sunrise Cemetery in Sunrise, MN. The family would like to express a special thank you and sincere appreciation to the caregivers and staff at Eagle Ridge and also St. Croix Hospice for the excellent care provided to Marlys over the past four years.

Last Update: Nov 04, 2024 2:35 pm CST