Marilyn E. (Fesler) Vande Voorde

Marilyn E. (Fesler) Vande Voorde, 83, of rural Annawan, passed away after courageously battling Co-vid on February 19, 2021, at Unity Point, Rock Island. A private Funeral Mass with her family will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Annawan, where she was a parishioner. Reverend S. Stephen Engelbrecht will officiate. Marilyn will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Annawan.  Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Atkinson Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Marilyn Vande Voorde Memorial Fund, to be used for several charities.

Marilyn was born May 26, 1937, the daughter of George and Leona (Witte) Fesler, in Cambridge, IL. She attended Galva schools and always looked forward to attending class reunions. Marilyn met Eugene (Gene) Vande Voorde at a dance in Cambridge and he swept her off her feet. On September 15, 1956, they were married and danced regularly for the next 64 years. Marilyn was able to accompany Gene while he was in the Army, and stationed in Colorado and Germany, where their first child, Diane, was born. Upon their return stateside, they farmed several places before settling on the family farm in Annawan. Marilyn worked on the farm alongside Gene and was the bookkeeper for the family business, Vande Voorde Sales, Inc. She also enjoyed working at Curious Cargo for a number of years.

Marilyn was a proud and active member of the Geneseo DAR chapter and participated on a number of committees over the past decades. She particularly enjoyed reading the essays of high school students for the Citizenship Award. Marilyn served as a volunteer at Hammond Henry Hospital for 22 years, with 3840 hours of service, and held several auxiliary office/board positions during her time there. In 2003, she was awarded the Auxiliary Leadership II Award.

Marilyn is survived by her husband, Gene; and sister, Beverly Radue, Geneseo. She would tell you that her greatest accomplishment was her children - daughters, Diane Vande Voorde (Randy Atkins), Fairmount, IN; Beth (Michael) Keim, Port Byron, IL; Eileen (Hipolito) Lopez, Roscoe, IL; Jeff Vande Voorde, Geneseo; and Tony (Lori) Vande Voorde, Kewanee, IL. Special mention goes to honorary daughter, Kate Decker, Atkinson.

Her grandchildren (12) include Maura (Matt) Day, Bowling Green, KY, Joe (Jen) Cunningham, St Petersburg, FL, James (Ashley) Keim, Carmel, IN, Sarah (Justin) Williams, Romeoville, Kaylee Vande Voorde, Arvada, CO, Ethan Vande Voorde, Memphis, TN, Gwen Vande Voorde, Geneseo, Hannah and Jake Lopez, Roscoe, and Grace and Alec Vande Voorde, Kewanee. Her six great-grandchildren are Wesley and Ella Keim, Ronan and Liam Day, and Madeline and Henry Nevin. Number 7 is due to arrive in any day to Sarah and Justin.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Rollin Fesler; sister, Doris Radue; granddaughter, Emily Vande Voorde; and niece, Linda Staples.

The family would like to offer special thanks to the staff of Unity Point ICU, 7 North, including Dr Pasha, for their loving care during Marilyn’s final days. Thanks also to the staff of Hammond Henry Hospital.