Marilyn Penn

Sun Prairie - Marilyn Steele Penn, 67, died peacefully Tuesday, January 17th, 2012. Her final days and hours were spent with family and friends by her side. The only child of Joseph and Ida Schares Steele, Marilyn was born January 28, 1944 in Los Angeles, CA. She grew up in Postville, IA, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1965. Marilyn taught elementary school in Madison, WI, Ladue, MO, Arlington, VA, and Sun Prairie, WI. She taught for 33 years, retiring in 2006. Marilyn served for many years on the Sun Prairie Park Recreation and Forestry Commission, and on the Sun Prairie Plan Commission. She loved music from the 1960s, voting for Democrats, cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and voicing her opinions. She found the beauty of the Midwest with the Mississippi River and the gentle hills to be the most calming of all places. She loved her daughters and cherished her grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters, Joanie (Tracy) Tool, Ann (Lee) Sensenbrenner, and three grandchildren. Deepest thanks go to the staff at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge, Agrace Hospice Care, and the Sun Prairie retired teachers. Funeral services will be held at OAKWOOD VILLAGE PRAIRIE RIDGE TREE OF LIFE CHAPEL, 5565 Tancho Drive, Madison on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 10:00 am with Chaplain Gwen Brandfass officiating. A visitation will be held at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge Tree of Life Chapel on Saturday from 9:00 am until the time of service. She will be buried at St. Peter's Cemetery in Clermont, IA, alongside her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who came from Ireland in 1840. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Wisconsin Council of the Blind and the Visually Impaired, 754 Williamson Street, Madison, WI 53703, whose help in the last few months was invaluable. Marilyn's favorite quote was from Eleanor Roosevelt: "You gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3325 E. Washington Ave. Madison, WI
608-249-6666
www.cressfuneralservice.com