Marilyn Beth Schlagel

Marilyn Beth Schlagel, 68, died unexpectedly at her home in Greeley on November 23, 2009. She will be missed terribly by her family and many friends. Marilyn was born on December 16, 1940 to Portman and Margaret Elder (Kleber) and lived with her parents, brother, and sister on the family farm northeast of Ault. Marilyn graduated from Ault High School in 1958. She graduated in 1962 from UNC with a degree in education. Marilyn began her teaching career in California. In California, Marilyn met her first husband Lynn Graves. She was married to him from 1965 – 1976. They returned to Colorado where Marilyn went back to UNC and got her Master’s degree. She started working for the Highland School District. Lynn had two daughters who Marilyn enjoyed a lot; one of them, Lisa Geib (Graves) has remained close to Marilyn. Marilyn and Lynn had one daughter together, Margaret, in 1970. After the divorce Marilyn continued to work for the Highland School District as an elementary teacher. To make ends meet she also drove the school bus. During this time Marilyn bought a home in Ault and began her love of traveling. Annual trips to San Francisco, trips to Disney, cruises, trips to Hawaii, Sailboat trips to the Caribbean, and many other destinations. After her divorce she met Philip Schlagel, the love of her life. She and Phil dated for more than 12 years, but finally, on June 30, 1990 they married. Marilyn loved being married to Phil and she enjoyed getting to know and love his adult children, Ed, Tom, and Rosemary and loved all the grandchildren, Katie, Annie, Grace, Kelsey, Cade, and Cole. Marilyn loved teaching and taught over 35 years, she retired in 1997. After her retirement she traveled with Phil quite a bit. There was a yearly trip to Alaska to visit Tom and family, trips to Costa Rica, Panama. When Marilyn was not traveling she loved to stay home and work in her yard, read, and she took care of the families youngest grandchild, Patrick whom she adored. Phil passed away in August of 2007. It was a terrible loss to Marilyn and the family to lose Phil. Since then Marilyn moved to a home that was closer to her daughter Margaret. She continued to love to travel and had made trips to France and Italy, Disney World, Mexico, and she made frequent visits to San Francisco to see her sister who she was very close to. When Marilyn was not traveling she was busy taking a Spanish class with her neighbor Maria, belonged to the Red Hats, Exchange Club, she took piano lessons from her friend Jackie Derr, and met frequently for coffee with friends from school. She was also active at the First Lutheran Church. She was an avid reader and loved to go to the movies. She loved spending time with her youngest grandchild Patrick, they particularly liked to eat out at the Texas Road House. During the summer she loved working in her yard and feeding the birds and squirrels. Marilyn is survived by her daughter, Margaret Maze and husband Eric and son Patrick of Greeley, CO; Linda Fontana and her husband Lorenzo and son Tony of San Francisco, CA; Rosemary Hantelman and husband Steve and daughters Katie, Annie, and Grace of Littleton, CO, Ed Schlagel and wife Judy, and daughter Kelsey of Grand Junction, CO, Tom Schlagel and wife Janet, and sons Cade and Cole of Dillingham, AK, sister-in Law Marlene Elder and son Casey Elder, his wife Lisa, and boys Eli and Ase. Preceded in death by Philip Schlagel, husband, Margaret and Portman Elder, parents, and Gene Elder, brother. A viewing will be held at Allnutt Funeral home – 702 13th Street – Friday, November 27th from 4pm – 7pm. The service will be Saturday, November 28th with the committal at Linn Grove Cemetery at 9:30am and the memorial service at 11:00am at the First Lutheran Church – 402 Graefe Avenue, Ault. A luncheon will be held after the service and all are welcome. Memorials may be made out to First Lutheran Church in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th Street, Greeley, CO 80631.