She was born on January 27, 1929 on a farm on Franklinville Road in Union to Alfred and Ida Mae (Routt) Swanlund. She attended Maple Hill School in Union and Marengo Community High School, graduating in 1946. Later that year she married Arthur Hensel. During their 65 year marriage they had two children, Robert and Lori. Marilyn worked in the Marengo Community for many years, first at McGill's and later at the Marengo State Bank. She was a life long member of the First Baptist Church in Marengo. They had many great friends in Marengo but she and Art decided to continue their life's adventures in Ocala, FL when he retired. They spent 15 happy years there and enjoyed many rounds of golf, card games, and countless hours of fun with their Florida neighbors at the community pool and clubhouse. Their love of family and friends pulled them back to Marengo in 2002. Marilyn loved being close again to her family and reuniting with her lifelong Marengo area friends. She was active in card clubs, Tea Thyme Garden Club, and other activities.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; son, Robert; grandson, Kyle Hensel; her parents; and siblings, Carl Nyman, Herb "Swanee" Swanlund, Doris Pearson, and Barbara Medelberg.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Karen Hensel; her daughter, Lori (Robert) Karstensen; her grandchildren, Keri (Chris) Nolen, Bob (Meredith) Hensel, Adam, Alex, and Nathan Karstensen; great-grandchildren, Cade, Cole, and Caelan Nolen, Sam and Jackson Hensel; her sister, Janice Anderson; her sister-in-law, Lorraine Swanlund; and her nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30pm on Thursday, August 23 at the First Baptist Church, 320 E. Washington St. Marengo. There will with be a short service following the visitation.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Marengo.
Online condolences may be made at www.marengo-unionfuneralhome.com.
