Marlene Joyce Esselstrom

February 19, 1932 — July 25, 2014

Marlene Joyce Esselstrom, 82, of Wentworth, Wisconsin, died Friday, July 25, 2014 at Villa Marina Health & Rehabilitation Center in Superior.

She was born February 19, 1932 in Superior at St. Josephs Hospital, along with twin sister Marlis, to Clara (Strauman) and Clyde Thomas.

She graduated from Central High School in 1950 and then graduated from St. Paul Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1954.

Marlene married Melvin Esselstrom on November 12, 1966 at Hope Congregational Church.

They resided at a farm in Wentworth on Highway 13 for almost their entire marriage. She was employed as a teller at the National Bank of Commerce after graduation from college, and then worked as a homemaker and on the farm during her married life.

Marlene was a devoted wife, devout Christian, an active member at Hope Congregational Church throughout her life including various leadership roles, singing in the choir and serving with several womens’ groups.

She was very instrumental along with Marlis in organizing and running the Children’s Mission in Superior for over twenty years.

Marlene was a doting Aunt to her nieces and nephews, lover of animals including the numerous dogs and cats that lived on the farm, host to many family Sunday and holiday gatherings on the farm (providing a sledding hill in the winter and fishing hole in the summer).

She had a wonderful sense of humor that continued to be expressed until her final days.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melvin on October 5, 2012 and their infant daughter Janelle on February 1, 1969.

Survivors include her brother Kermit Thomas, Superior; her twin sister Marlis (Reverend Gilbert) Anderson, Bradenton, Florida; niece, Laurice (Tom) Garrett; nephews Craig Anderson, Kyle (Julie) Thomas, Dale (Amy Cusick) Thomas, Don (Becky) Thomas, Gary (Sheila) Thomas, one sister-in-law, Inez Berglund; Esselstrom nieces and nephews: Beverly Patterson, Anita Pearson, Karen (Mark) Gainey, Tom Esselstrom, Sandra (Lanny) Hall, Mary Fumoy, Duane (Kathy) Esselstrom, Kay (John) Cummings, Robin Berglund, JoAnn (Jerry) Nykanen, Susan (Craig) Anderson; numerous grand nieces and nephews; and dear friends Jeanne Ellison and Kathy Colby.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Tuesday, July 29, 2014 in the Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, 1209 East 5 ^th Street, Superior.

Visitation will continue at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at Hope Congregational Church, 1827 Wyoming Avenue, Superior until the 11:00 AM Funeral Service with Pastor Michael Casperson, officiating.

A luncheon at the church will follow the service.

Pallbearers for the service will be Kyle Thomas, Dale Thomas, Craig Strauman, Chuck Martin, Art Preo and Mike Granlund.

Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery in the Town of Lakeside following the luncheon.

To send a condolence or sign the on-line guest book, visit our website at www.lenroot-maetzold.com.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marlene Joyce Esselstrom, please visit our flower store.

Send a Card

Marlene Joyce Esselstrom

February 19, 1932 — July 25, 2014

Guestbook