Marilyn Karlowski

Services to celebrate Marilyns life will include a visitation on Wednesday (12-29-2010) which will be held from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. with services immediately following at 12:00 noon at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Decatur. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Decatur, IL. Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home are handling the arrangements.Marilyn was born on July 9, 1933 in Decatur, IL, the daughter of Carl and Marian (Briegel) Jones. She married Thomas (Tom) Henry Karlowski on February 10, 1952. They shared fifty-eight years together and had three devoted daughters. Marilyn was raised in Decatur and graduated from Decatur High School in 1951. Marilyn was employed by the Decatur School District for 21 years. She was a woman of great faith and a long time member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church. Marilyn was an active member in the Decatur Genealogical Society and served as president in 1992. One of Marilyns fondest memories was a trip to Sweden in 1989, where she visited her ancestral home with her husband, her brother Bob Jones and sister-in-law Nancy. By chance they asked a passing stranger about names on a family tree she had researched, only to find that he was one of her relatives. Marilyn was involved in organizing several high school reunions and enjoyed quilting, gardening and researching her ancestry. Marilyn was a loving wife and an amazing mother to her three daughters of whom she was extremely proud. Marilyn was reunited in Heaven with her parents, her brother Bob, infant grandson Robert and her favorite Uncle Wilson.She leaves behind her husband Tom, daughters: Marcia Greenwell and husband Michael of Mt. Zion, Deborah Beasley and husband Christopher of Littleton, Colorado and Susan Krows and husband Kevin of Forsyth; grandchildren: Jennifer (Eric) Fincham, Alex, Allie and Abbie Krows, Ryan and Charlie Beasley; step-grandson: Rick (Terri) Greenwell; great-granddaughter Bryleigh Fincham; sisters-in-law: Nancy Grandys-Jones of Littleton, Colorado, Esther Miller of Decatur and Bea (Gene) Wilkerson of Maroa and many special friends.The family would like to thank the incredible team at Cancer Care Specialists including Ann Dickens, Dr. Esparaz and Dr. Elliott as well as Leslie, Angie and Debby from the Decatur Memorial Hospital Hospice team. In addition, the family would like to thank Dr. Kola and the CVU staff for their support and also Linda Tempel and Lois Miller for the care they have provided to the family during the last several months. Finally, the family would also like to thank Pastors Wray and Rob of St. Pauls for their love, prayers and support.Donations may be made to St. Pauls Lutheran Church, the Decatur Genealogical Society, Cancer Care Specialists or DMH Hospice. "
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