Marilyn Dahlquist
DICKINSON COUNTY/MARQUETTE- Marilyn Louise Dahlquist, 92, of Dickinson County, formerly of Marquette, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2024 at the Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Kingsford, MI.
Born on March 17, 1932, in Ironwood, MI, to Herbert and Dora (Jensen) Cain, Marilyn was raised in Iron Mountain, MI, and graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1949. After high school, Marilyn moved to Milwaukee to attend business school, where she began the next chapter of her life. She married Vern Charles Dahlquist on May 16, 1953. The couple lived in Geneva, New York, while Vern served in the U.S. Air Force. Upon Vern’s discharge, they returned to Michigan living in ‘vet ville’ on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette. For the next couple of years, while Vern was in school, Marilyn worked as the sole clerical support for the Corps of Engineers effort to build KI Sawyer AFB. After brief sojourns in Ann Arbor and Escanaba, Vern and Marilyn (now with 3 children) returned to Marquette in 1961 where the family resided at 123 E Magnetic for the next 62 years.
Marilyn was known for her remarkable energy and hands-on abilities. She was an avid bridge player, a skilled cross-country and downhill skier, and a passionate ‘Do It Yourself’ enthusiast before it was a thing.
Marilyn was a talented seamstress and knitter, and her wallpapering skills were legendary. A woman of many talents, she also maintained an active lifestyle, faithfully doing aerobics and weight lifting for over 30 years. Her boundless energy and commitment to her family were cornerstones of her life. She spent summers at the family cottage on Sawyer Lake, where she hosted family gatherings and created lasting memories. Marilyn’s devotion to adventure and family extended far beyond the day-to-day care to when she and her sister Nancy embarked on a 7,000-mile road trip when she was in her 80s.
Marilyn was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church in Marquette, where she was an active participant in church life and a source of support for those around her.
Marilyn is survived by her children: Betty Dahlquist of Martinez, CA; Susan Dahlquist of Richmond, VA; and Mark (Unsu) Dahlquist of Brunswick, MD. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Matt Parent, Jason Parent, Michelle Dahlquist, and Lindsey Dahlquist; great-grandchildren Roan and Winnie Parent; and many nieces and close friends, including her best friends Joanne Potvin and Joan Myefski.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Vern Dahlquist; Grandson: Kristofer Parent and three sisters: Gladys Halpin, Nancy Ball, and Beverly Bates.
Marilyn will be remembered for her vibrant spirit, her love of family, and her unwavering commitment to living life to the fullest. She will be deeply missed, but her memory will continue to inspire all who knew her.
Honoring Marilyn’s request, no public services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family encouraged contributions to the Noquemanon Trail organization (noquetrails.org).
Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.