Marlene  Mey (Seideman) Schumacher left for her eternal home on Friday, March 31. She is survived by James, her husband of 62 years, her 4 daughters Jodie (Gary) Schommer of Ft. Atkinson, WI; Wendy (Marc) Folven of Byron, IL; Jamie (Stefan) Arredondo of Bristow, VA; and Laury (Daniel) Krause of Oshkosh, WI; as well as granddaughters Whitney (Oleg) Demin of Vernon Hills, IL; Christina Arredondo of Williamsburg, VA; Caroline Folven of Minneapolis, MN; Katherine (John) Cleven of Milwaukee, WI; Petra (Cavyn) VonDeylen of Milwaukee, WI; and Elena Arredondo of Bristow, VA.

Marlene, born in Milwaukee on July 3, 1934, was the daughter of Margaret and Arthur Seideman. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister Elaine. She attended Atonement Lutheran Grade School and Lutheran High School. She graduated from Valparaiso University in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. She married Jim in 1955. During their 24 military relocations, she was “Commander of the Home Front.” She was active in her children’s lives, her church, and community. In the ensuing years, Marlene took part in numerous activities in support of Jim’s assignments for the Marine Corps. Marlene was a faithful steward of her time and talents. While stationed in Japan, Marlene taught English to Japanese business and service organizations. She initiated and organized a school library at Mt. Olive Lutheran School in Des Moines, Iowa. She served as President of the Marine Corps Officer Wives Club in Washington D.C.  After her father’s death, she became owner and CEO of A.F. Seideman Company of Butler, Wisconsin. She was on the board of Tempo International, an organization that mentors young professional women, and was the recipient of their TEMPO International President’s Award. Subsequently, she moved to Oconomowoc, she restored a Victorian home, and became involved by serving her city and community, first as a volunteer, then as mayor for two terms. She was always active in her church and its various outreach programs. She served on committees for St. Matthew Lutheran School (Oconomowoc) building program, St. Marcus (Milwaukee), and Wisconsin Lutheran College (Milwaukee).

Visitation will be on Friday, April 7 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 818 West Wisconsin Avenue, Oconomowoc, WI  from 9:30 to 1:00pm. Service to follow at 1:00. A private internment for the family will be held after the church service at Ixonia Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery. A light lunch, at the church, will follow at 3:00. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church Forward Program, St. Marcus Lutheran School, Wisconsin Lutheran College Fine Arts Organ Fund, or Time of Grace Ministry.

Many  lives were touched by Marlene, and she will be dearly missed by all. She lived, as she died, in full confidence with Jesus as her Lord and Savior. “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all’. A women who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31