Marian Kettenbeil

Obituary of Marian Vivian Kettenbeil Hancock Marian V. Kettenbeil, age 90, passed away at Winona House of Portage Pointe Tuesday evening, April 5, 2011, where she had been a resident since July of 2010. She was born on June 11, 1920, in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, a daughter of the late Charles Fisher and Harriet (Hattie) Landreman. After graduating from Fond Du Lac High School, she attended St. Scholastica College in Duluth, Minnesota, graduating with a degree in English, French, and Latin. Her first teaching position brought her to Lake Linden, Michigan where she met the love of her life, Bruce B. Kettenbeil. They were married on September 21, 1944. Marian taught high school classes in Lake Linden, Mass City, Dollar Bay, Kalamazoo, and Calumet. She was a member and former officer of the local chapter of Retired School Personal, member emeritus and former officer of the Calumet Women's Club for which she wrote a compelling history, and member of the Church of the Resurrection in Hancock. Marian's life was guided by strong faith and devotion to family and nowhere was that more evident than in her loving care of her special needs daughter Barbara, always our angel. In latter part of their lives, she and Barbie shared many travel adventures. Her large and widespread family will always remember her for her appreciation and broad knowledge of art, literature, and music, beginning with singing, performing, and playing the piano and organ at an early age; for her careful compilation and sharing of family history and the stories that bring it all to life; for her humming and singing while she prepared the most delicious desserts and wild berry pies, homemade soups, bread, pasties, and ethnic dishes like stuffed cabbage rolls. Although many tried, none have matched her German potato salad, a family tradition. Preceding her in death were her only brother William Fisher, husband Bruce Kettenbeil, and daughter Barbara J. Kettenbeil. Surviving are her five children Mary Lee (John) Mikkola of Hancock, their daughter Laura Lee (Chris) Norris of San Jose, CA and their children Avery, Christian, Matthew, and Zachary, and their son John O. (Christine) Mikkola of Amherst, NH, and their children Jack, Ethan, and Grace; Son Peter Kettenbeil (Nicole Beaupre) of Brossard, Quebec, and his daughters Sophie and her son Nathan, and Sarah of Montreal; daughter Anne Kettenbeil (Solange Arsenault) of St. Claire, Quebec, and Anne's daughter Marianne Kettenbeil-Cote and son Nickolas Tremblay of Montreal; son Daniel (Sherry) Kettenbeil of Kalamazoo, MI, and their daughter Ashley; and son William (Holly) Kettenbeil of Waterford, MI, and their sons Christian, Michael, and Nickolas; and those she included as family, Sister Beatrice Lindsay of Fond Du Lac, WI, Dear friend Virginia Sullivan of Hancock, Jackie Beauchamp of Hancock, Scott Bennetts of Calumet and Guy Michaelson of Lake Linden. Marian is also survived by her sisters, the "Fisher Girls," Gladys Marggie, Agnes Breitzman, Sister Joan Fisher C.S.A., all of Fond Du Lac, WI, and Harriet Weisenberger of Westminster, CA; brother-in-law Zane (Kakky) Kettenbeil of Lake Linden and their daughter Judith of Chicago, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family extends their gratitude to the staff at Portage Pointe for their loving and exceptional care of Marian, particularly in the last month of her life. A Mass of Christian Burial and celebration of Marian's life will be held 11:00 am on Saturday, April 9, 2011, at Church of the Resurrection in Hancock with Father Corbin Eddy to officiate. Friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 8, at Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Hancock where a parish prayer service will be held at 7:30, and from 10:00 am until time of services at the church. Spring burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery of Lake Linden. Memorials may be given in Marian's memory to the charity of one's choice. The Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Hancock has been assisting the family with the arrangements. To view Marian's obituary or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net. To send flowers to the family of Marian Kettenbeil, please visit Tribute Store