Marilyn Kay Wheeler

April 29, 1949 - October 29, 2023

Marilyn was born in Madison, WI to Kenneth and Donna (Goudy) Sanftleben on April 29, 1949 and grew up in Middleton, WI. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Marilyn married in 1970 and started her own family in Madison, WI before relocating to Colorado Springs, CO in 1989. Marilyn taught nursery school for many years, became a nursery school Director, and then changed careers after relocating to Colorado where she became a policy services representative at USAA.

Marilyn’s interests were many, including being very musically inclined and playing in the UW marching band to traveling to see new places with her family every chance she got, to snowbirding in FL with her sister, Kristi, cheering on her favorite sports teams, and spending QFT, quality family time. She will be remembered and honored as an incredibly selfless woman, always thinking and doing for others before herself. Marilyn was so generous in sharing her love, support, wisdom, caring, and a listening ear with everyone she knew. She was also as strong and determined as they come. Marilyn faced many challenges in her life and handled each with grace and determination. Her greatest achievement and most cherished role in life was being a mother and grandmother and we are so thankful for how she raised us. Her passing leaves an immeasurable void in her family’s lives and she will be missed beyond words.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Donna, her sister, Karen, an infant sister, and her grandson, Niko. She is survived by her children, Daniel (Oneea) Wheeler of Lafayette, CO, Kimberly (John) Wheeler of Utah, and Katherine (Bryan) Mickelson of Colorado Springs, CO, siblings, Keith Sanftleben of Granger, IN, Scott (Dorothy) Sanftleben of Verona, WI, Ron (Michelle) Sanftleben of Cary, NC, and Kristi Sanftleben of Tampa, FL, her grandchildren, Alexander Wheeler, Kayla, Andrew, Grace, and Alexa Peach, and Oliver Mercier, two great grandchildren, and four nieces and nephews, Nicola Lawrence, Lindsey (Joe) Hunnicutt, Tyler Sanftleben, and Morgan Sanftleben. Her legacy of kindness, selflessness, determination and passion lives on in each of her survivors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to these organizations working to treat and cure medical conditions close to Marilyn’s heart:

-American Cancer Society

-American Lung Association

-Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation

-American Heart Association

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialgardensfuneralhome.com for the Wheeler family.