Marian Kottke

Marian M. Kottke was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend.  She passed away on April 22, 2022, at the age of 82 after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by a constant stream of loving family and friends. She was even blessed to enjoy her last Easter celebration surrounded by more than 70 family members.

She was born to Clarence and Madelia Hanson on November 17, 1939, in Wausau, WI. After graduating Wausau High School, she had met the love of her life, Loyd Kottke and the two ran off to elope in Minnesota on August 15th, 1958. Together they built a life in Hamburg, WI raising nine children on a family farm where family members still live to this day. During that time, she could constantly be found baking, tending her vegetable garden, and fishing.

A great passion of hers was the chance to win. She loved playing card games and watching the Game Show Network (particularly her favorite: The Price is Right). She almost never turned down a trip to the casino (even winning a few hundred dollars on her last family casino trip just a few weeks ago) and constantly received scratch-off tickets as gifts from her family.

The thing she cherished most of all was quality time spent with family and friends, whether it was going to church, attending family get-togethers, baking sweet rolls with her grandchildren, or enjoying her girls’ night out. Her smile and snort-filled laughter will be deeply missed at all these gatherings.

Marian leaves behind her children Terry (Joan) Kottke, Tamara Kottke, Kevin (Kim) Kottke, Brad (Debbie) Kottke, Kent (Laura) Kottke, Audra (Daniel) Kalepp, Craig (Trisha) Kottke, and Corey (Stephany) Kottke; three siblings John (Joan) Hanson, Sue (Clarence) Degner, and Darrell (Marion) Dehlinger; 21 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren (plus two more on their way) and many brother and sister in-laws and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Loyd Kottke; her children, Keith, Dale, and Wade Kottke; two grandchildren; Titus Kottke and Baby Kalepp; her parents and stepfather Clarence Hanson, Madelia and Al Dehlinger; and her siblings Dori Beckman and Larry Hanson.

The funeral service for Marian will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 11:00am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hamburg.  Pastor Joel Danner will officiate.  Visitation will be held on Friday, April 29, 2022, from 4:00pm to 7:30pm at Waid Funeral Home in Merrill, with a prayer service from 7:30pm until 8:00pm. There will be an additional visitation on Saturday morning from 10:00am until the time of the service, at the church.  Burial will immediately follow the service and take place in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery.

The family would also like to extend a special thank you to Pastor Danner, the staff of Merrill Aspirus ER, Marshfield Medical Center in Weston, Pine Crest Rehab, and Compassus Hospice Care for their compassionate care during the last few months.

The service will be recorded and can be found under her obituary on the funeral home website.  It will be available for viewing after 5/1/22.

Waid Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences are encouraged and may be made at www.waidfuneral.com.