Marianne Ruth Skowronek Knudson, age 90, of Crocker, was born on May 5, 1933, in Breslau Germany, the daughter of Helmuth and Marta (Steiner) Skowronek and departed this life on Saturday morning, Sept. 9, 2023.
Marianne was a hatmaker by trade but changed careers early on and opened up and ran a successful ceramics shop in Crocker for several years where she could bring a ceramic piece to life with her beautiful detail work. She was a faithful and devout member of the St. Cornelius Catholic Church in Crocker where she attended regularly until her health would no longer allow. Marianne was extremely proud of her American citizenship and would give a stern “I’m not German, I’m American!” to anyone that got it wrong.
Marianne was a proud Army wife that made many sacrifices over the years. While her husband served our Country in Vietnam, she was raising three young boys at her new home in the United States. She took her role as an Army wife very seriously and to that end, she was a founding member of Crocker VFW Post #4956 and the Ladies Auxiliary as well as being a member of the DAV and Cooties. She was the secretary/treasurer of the Ladies Auxiliary and served in that capacity for many, many years. She most recently served as Chaplain of the Post for the last several years.
Those left to mourn but cherish the memory of Marianne include her three sons and their wives, Perry and Nancy of Virginia, Bob and Stephanie of Crocker and Mike and Linda of Lebanon and her sister, Monika and her husband, Fritz Gampe of Schweinfurt, Germany. Marianne was a proud Oma to 6 grandchildren, Kelly Wilson (Jason), Hope Herndon (Jason), Michael Knudson (Michelle), Amanda Myers (Chris) Ashley Johnson (John Michiel), Maegan Reid (Aaron), 18 great grandchildren, one great, great granddaughter and two nieces.
Anyone who knew Marianne knew that she loved her boys fiercely but her daughter-in-law Stephanie was the daughter she never had. Stephanie lovingly cared for her mother-in-law for the past few years and Marianne came to depend on her greatly. Marianne lovingly referred to Stephanie as ‘my Angel’ when speaking about her.
Marianne was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband of 54 years, Bob.
Visitation was held for Marianne from 10 a.m. until her Mass at 11 a.m., all on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, in the St. Cornelius Catholic Church, Crocker.
Interment was in the Bethany Memorial Gardens, near Crocker under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Crocker. Pallbearers were Perry, Bob and Mike Knudson, Michael Knudson, Aaron Reid and John Michiel Johnson. Honorary Pallbearers are Jason Wilson and Jason Herndon.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Loving Paws in Crocker with envelopes available at the church or the office of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Crocker.
Arrangements are under the direction of Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home of Crocker.
