Marilyn Howard

Marilyn Howard, 81, Galesburg, died at 8:34 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, at home with her family by her side. Marilyn was born Dec. 7, 1932, in rural Knox County, the daughter of John E. and Alice Lucille (Fraker) Wessels. She married Charles E. Howard on May 23, 1953, in Galesburg. He preceded her in death on Feb. 22, 1986. Marilyn is survived by one son, Steven (Nancy) Howard of Glasgow, Ky.; three daughters, Kathryn Hasenberg of St. Peters, Mo., and Carol Goedeke and Debra Howard, both of Galesburg; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, John E. "Jack" Wessels of Orange Beach, Mo.; and five sisters, Barbara Quinsland of Overland Park, Kan., Ruth Carmitchel of Santa Maria, Calif., Margaret Wright of Galesburg, Liz Lott of Galesburg, and Judy Durbin of Wever, Iowa. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Laura Wick, on March 10, 2001; a brother, Thomas Wessels; and a son-in-law, Larry Hasenberg. Marilyn graduated from Carl Sandburg College and was a bookkeeper for many years, working for Burlington Truck Lines, P.M. IL, and Miller-Dredge Insurance, retiring in 1994. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church and the Quilters Guild. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, at Bethel Baptist Church. Pastor Lee Johnson will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church or to the family. Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory have been entrusted with the arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.