Obituaries

MADISON - Marlene (Molly - Marley) Violet Gest, 84, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 10, 2015 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg, surrounded by her loving family.

Molly was born in the Town of Marcellon, Wisconsin on August 21, 1930 to Clarence and Violet (Schmidt) Morgan. Marlene graduated from Pardeeville High School in 1948 and from Madison Business School in 1950. After graduation, Marlene then worked for Wisconsin Power and Light Company for 5 years.

Marlene married her high school sweetheart Jerry Gest on April 15,1950. They were happily married for 65 years. When her sons were older, she worked for 3 Madison schools: Gompers, Sherman and Lakeview. She spent 26 years at Lakeview working with needy children (which she loved) and helping in the office. Marlene will be remembered as a very kind, thoughtful and loving person as well as being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were very special to her and were the light of her life. Marlene was a very active member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church involving herself as a Sunday School Teacher, prayer friend to Confirmands, visited the ill at University Hospital with Chaplain Ehlers, was Co-Chairman of the Altar Guild, Co-Chairman of Funerals, served as President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Women's Guild along with lots of other volunteer work.

She loved cooking, baking (especially at Christmas with her famous cookie platters) and lunches with her many friends and relatives. She was an enthusiastic Green Bay Packer Fan (win or lose) and missed a few games in person in her later years due to health reasons. After that, she continued to watch them on TV and was always rooting them on for another touchdown.

Marlene is survived her husband, Jerry; her sons, Randy (Linda) Gest of Waunakee; Jeff (Jane) Gest of Cottage Grove; Grandchildren - David (Elizabeth) Gest, Deerfield, Kristin (Jake) Statz, Martinsville, Ashley Gest, Madison; Great-Grandchildren: Nicholas, Katelyn, Lyndsey, Braydon, Sophie and Matson; sister, Janet (Hank) Dedrick (Spring Green); and brother, Vern (June) Morgan (Fond du Lac); and sister-in-law, Shirley (Chuck) Morgan of Rome, Georgia.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence & Violet Morgan; and an older brother, Chuck Morgan (Rome, Georgia).

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 17, 2015, at ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2126 N. Sherman Avenue, Madison at 11:00 a.m. with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of service with Reverend Gerry Kuhnke presiding. Internment will be at Roselawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethesda Lutheran Communities or Agrace Hospice.

The family would like to extend a special THANK YOU to the staff and doctors at Agrace Hospice for their compassionate care.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Home

& Cremation Services

2418 N. Sherman Ave.

608-249-8257