Marilyn Ruth Nordeen

Marilyn Ruth Nordeen, 93, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away, Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Rock Creek of Ottawa.

Graveside services will be held at 2:30 P.M., Monday, April 24, 2023, at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas. The family will meet friends from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M., prior to the graveside service at the mortuary and then proceed in procession to the cemetery.

Marilyn was born Wednesday, August 7, 1929, in Williamsburg, Kansas, the daughter of Millard and Leona (Smith) Wren.

She was a lifelong Franklin County resident living in Ottawa, Kansas since 1951, moving there from Williamsburg.

Marilyn graduated from Williamsburg High School with the class of 1947. In 1951, she graduated from the Kansas State Teachers College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Marilyn graduated from Emporia State University receiving a master’s degree in library science in 1974.

She was united in marriage to Henry Joel Nordeen, Jr. June 7, 1953, in Ottawa. They were happily married for sixty-seven years and had two sons, Philip and Roger. He preceded her in death on October 24, 2020.

Marilyn was a lifelong homemaker and worked as a librarian at Ottawa High School from 1951-1960. She was also a librarian from 1974-1993 with Wellsville High School. Marilyn was the co-owner and operator of Ok Photo and Radio Shack with her husband Joel from the early 1950s until 1996.

She was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church and a former member of the Ottawa United Methodist Church. Marilyn was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Williamsburg chapter and the garden club of Ottawa.

Marilyn enjoyed traveling, gardening, reading, and creating cross stitch pieces. She especially enjoyed time spent with her family and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Millard and Leona; husband, Henry Joel; and brother, Millard Wren, Jr.

Survivors include two sons, Philip (Jana) Nordeen of Carmel, Indiana, and Roger (Linda) Nordeen of Olathe, Kansas; three grandchildren, Laura (Matt) Spann of Overland Park, Kansas, Sarah Nordeen of Lenexa, Kansas, and Reese Nordeen of Carmel, Indiana; and sister-in-law, Alice Wren of Lawrence, Kansas.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Westminster Presbyterian Church, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.