– Merilyn Ruth Kanetzke, 83, died Friday, September 24, 2010 at her home in Tucson following a brief illness.
Merilyn leaves her husband of over 60 years, Lyle R. Kanetzke; three daughters; Barb (Keith) Kuehn of Vail, AZ, Sue (Paul) Charnon of Dublin, OH and Janet (Robert) Wilhelm of Dublin, OH; eight grandchildren, Timothy (Monica) Kuehn of Grapevine, TX, Michael (Liz) Kuehn of Tucson, AZ, Jacob (Jennifer) Kuehn of Lewisville, TX, Sarah Kuehn of Tucson, AZ, Jennifer (Loren) Meyer of Ft. Worth, TX, Becca (Justin) Faull of Chicago, IL, Stacey Wilhelm of Dublin, OH and Greg Wilhelm of Dublin, OH; and three great grandsons, Tyler Kuehn and Mason Kuehn of Tucson, AZ, and Ryan Meyer of Ft. Worth, TX. Survivors also include sisters-in law; Marie Kanetzke of Racine, WI, Jan Kanetzke of Greenville, NC; brother-in-law Cliff Kanetzke of Racine, WI; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Merilyn was born December 10, 1926 in Racine, Wisconsin, the daughter of Lillian Jameson Washburn and Bayard H. Washburn. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Bayard M. Washburn and sister, Lois Davis.
Merilyn grew up in Racine. She attended Racine’s Park High School, graduating in the class of 1944. She worked for the George Gordon Machine Company and S.C. Johnson Wax.
She married Lyle on February 18, 1950 at the First Presbyterian Church in Racine. After spending six years in Michigan and Indiana, the Kanetzkes returned to Racine to raise their daughters. Merilyn and Lyle made Racine their home for over fifty years before moving full-time to Tucson in 2005.
Merilyn was a member of Racine’s Woman’s Club and the Republican Women. She volunteered in various capacities at Racine’s Lincoln Lutheran Home. A lifelong dedicated member of Racine’s First Presbyterian Church, she served the congregation as a Sunday school teacher and elected Elder and Deacon. In recent years she was also active in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Tucson.
Merilyn was a dedicated wife and mother. With the full support of her loving husband, she fostered a home-life where Christian values were taught, nurtured and lived. A woman of character, courage and conviction, she spoke her mind – always stressing the importance of doing what is right, even when no one was looking.
Her family and friends will always cherish the memories of Merilyn’s contagious laughter and irreverent sense of humor.
For Merilyn, spiritual growth was a life-long journey. She turned to God’s inspired word as the ultimate authority in her life. 1st Corinthians 13:12 was one of her favorite Bible verses. This is where Paul writes, “Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” May she rest in peace in the arms of our Lord.”
A memorial service will be held October 1, 2010 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall – NE Corner N Paseo del Norte at W Chapala Dr. – Tucson, AZ 85704-4599 at 1:00 PM. A second service will be October 9, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church 716 College Ave Racine, WI 53403 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Merilyn’s memory can be made to either congregation
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