Marlene Kay Peterson was born August 20, 1957 and passed away on March 13, 2020. She was born in Onawa, Iowa to Lester and Ramona Peterson of Whiting, Iowa. Marlene lived in the Whiting area until the age of 12, most of that time living on a farm near Whiting. In 1970 the family moved to Lakewood, Colorado.
Marlene was born prematurely which resulted in her having cerebral palsy. Obviously this had a huge impact on her life. She used a wheelchair her whole life and needed assistance with many activities of daily living. In addition, Marlene had significant mental health problems from adolescence on. This complex set of problems was quite challenging for Marlene and those around her, but she was able to accomplish more than might have been predicted.
While the world of the 1960’s and 1970’s was still adjusting to people with disabilities being active participants in life, Lester and Ramona did their best to open a wider world for Marlene. While growing up she and her family rode many a freight elevator to reach different floors of a building. Her father, Lester, a big strong man, carried Marlene the places her legs could not take her. Her parents made sure she participated in life in as many ways as possible. She swam, she rode horses, she went to camp, she rode amusement park rides, she had a modified-by-dad bicycle, she was part of a wheelchair square dance club, she visited Disneyland and many national parks.
Since the education of disabled children was not a given during her young years, Marlene attended a variety of schools. She was first enrolled in the University of Iowa Hospital School in Iowa City. She next attended school at the Siouxland Rehabilitation Center in Sioux City, Iowa. When that school closed, she attended Whiting Community School for a few years. Following the family’s move to Lakewood, Marlene attended Fletcher Miller School, a specialized school for students with disabilities, and ultimately graduated from Green Mountain High School in 1976. Marlene was a part of the first wave of disabled students to be integrated into regular schools with appropriate supports. With the passage of the Handicapped Children’s Act in 1976, the education options and rights for students with disabilities changed dramatically. Unfortunately Marlene missed that wave of change.
During her young adult years Marlene was employed as a receptionist at a sheltered workshop. She later worked as a telephone solicitor for the ARC Thrift Stores and for a long-life light bulb company. As times changed and Marlene changed, she was no longer employed, but she always dreamed of working in a helping career...teacher, social worker, sign language interpreter. She had a strong drive both to work and to help, but given her complex disabilities, she was limited in what she could do.
Marlene was a fierce soul and always strived to make her voice heard. During her middle adult years she lived in downtown Denver in an independent apartment. While she had aides that helped her on a daily basis, she wanted to be in control of her life in as many ways as possible. She rode the RTD bus system all over Denver to see friends, go to doctors’ appointments, and to shop. It should be noted that Marlene was able to do many of the things she did because of the changes brought about by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Accessible buses, curb cuts, modified tables at fast food restaurants, and special parking places were all things Marlene was able to benefit from. She managed her money with the help of a “personal banker” back when banks had the staff for that. She made sure she was her own decision maker. She had strong opinions about anything affecting her life.
Following a series of accidents and medical crises in 2010, Marlene next lived in a nursing home for about 5 years. Despite the good care she received there, she hated losing her freedom. While in the nursing home, Marlene worked with a local nonprofit that helps people with disabilities with a variety of issues. Without informing or seeking the help of her family, Marlene engineered her way out of the nursing home and into her own apartment in Lakewood. She was living in that apartment at the time of her death where she had received daily help from aides and significant support from her nephew, Michael.
Marlene loved reading, especially James Patterson books. She watched 80’s TV and movies and was a huge Star Trek fan. She loved 70’s rock and could be heard listening to Sonny & Cher or Bread or the Monkees. She drank gallons of Mountain Dew and Pepsi and smoked her cigarettes, not the best life style choices, but they brought her pleasure. Marlene also loved animals. During her teenage years, Marlene had a pet toy poodle which brought her a lot of joy. For many years she lived with a pet cat who she adored. She was visited by a therapy dog on her last day on this earth which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Marlene is survived by her mother, Ramona Peterson, her sister, Rosemary Peterson (spouse Patricia Termin), and her nephew, Michael Gustin. She was preceded in death by her father, Lester Peterson.
During Marlene’s final days she spent part of the time in ICU where the doctors poked and prodded and tested and examined. In the end they found no specific cause for her decline. She ultimately died of a worn out body and a tired soul.
Rest in peace, dear girl.
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