Marilyn A. Steinbrecher Hartung

Marilyn A. Steinbrecher Hartung of Thiensville, passed away on Friday January 23rd, 2015, at the age of 88. She is preceded in death by her parents, Nicholas Johnson and Estelle (nee Heise), step-mother Florence Johnson, cherished husband Paul, and sister Margie Renwick. She was the dearly beloved mother of Kathleen (Glenn) Scheele, Keith (Mary) Steinbrecher, Glenn (Lisa) Steinbrecher, and Gary (Peggy) Steinbrecher. She adored her grandchildren Kerri (Dave) Heffele, Lori (Adam) Potrykus, Katie Steinbrecher, Paul (Rachel) Steinbrecher, Renee Steinbrecher, Nicholas Steinbrecher, Eric Steinbrecher, Glenn Steinbrecher, Nate (Morgyn) Steinbrecher, Mary (Izzy - fiancée) Steinbrecher, and Samantha Steinbrecher; and great-grandchildren Ronin, Mason, Max, Lyla, Arya and another on the way. She is further survived by her sister Sandy Holmes, brother-in-law Earl Renwick and many other relatives and friends. Marilyn was born in Milwaukee on July 17, 1926. She met Paul and they were married on June 17, 1947. They had four children. After Paul's untimely death she moved to the Mequon / Thiensville area in 1974. She was active in a number of community activities including the Our Lady o...[more]

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Sorrows Christian Mothers; served as president and held other offices with the Mequon Woman's Club; organized selling raffle tickets for Family Fun before the Fourth where she was often in the parade; and regularly helped during elections bringing in her homemade cookies. Marilyn was an avid knitter and was part of the Flying Needles group. She made over 1,000 baby hats for Columbia St. Mary's Hospital in Ozaukee County. Reading was another passion and she was part of the Library League. Her family was the most important part of her life. She enjoyed seeing her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was always caring and supportive. Marilyn traveled to visit her daughter in Arizona every year. She loved to cook and bake for any gathering. German Potato Salad, Schaumtorte, angel food cake, and hundreds of Christmas cookies each year were family favorites. Christmas Eve was always a special event for the whole family to get together. Marilyn was a loving, caring and giving woman who always thought of others first. She will be dearly missed. Visitation will be on Friday, February 20th at 10:30 AM at Lumen Christi Catholic Church, 116 North Orchard Street, Thiensville with a mass at 11:30 AM. A luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety. Mail to WAFS, P.O. Box 1442, Brookfield, WI 53008 or on line www.wafs.org. �' COMMENTS FROM FAMILY Katie Scheele (daughter) - I will very much miss mom's visits to Arizona. We always had a great time shopping, sunning and just hanging around. She loved to sit in the sun and read. Her favorite Arizona food was Chile Rellenos which we had multiple times during her visits. I will also miss staying with her at our annual trips to Wisconsin during the summer. She and I celebrated her 86th birthday at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island and were treated like queens! Mom, I miss you so much! Lori Potrykus (granddaughter) - My Weekends with Grandma: Some of my fondest childhood memo-ries come from my weekends with grandma. As anyone who knew grandma could tell you, these weekends were not quiet affairs, but non-stop extravaganzas, filled with visits to the local library, daily trips to the pool with the sprinkler seal, walks to the lagoon to feed the geese, treats from the Little Boy Blue ice cream parlor, visits with friends, and "fashion shows" and coloring with the women of the Mequon's Women's Club. I remember delighting in the novelty of taking a shower instead of a bath. I remember the rose shaped soaps in her bathroom. I remember trying on her petite shoes and rings, and marveling that they almost fit my inordinately tiny, eight year old feet and fingers. I remember the quiet evenings of watching the news and grandma's gentle caresses of my hairline on my neck. I remember being tucked in to the sound of crickets and gentle "country" winds. I remember taking in her smell of Giorgio perfume and cigarettes, and feeling at home. I remember feeling understood. I remember feeling right. I remember feeling loved. Kerri Heffele (granddaughter) - I loved all of our conversations, whenever I would call we would be on the phone for at least an hour and talk about EVERYTHING. I loved that she LOVED to be the "first one" to tell me about anything new and exciting going on with the family. Even if I already knew...I made sure she thought she was the first one to tell me. I loved that she would always end our con-versations with "you know, you are my first born grandchild", I love that she made that special. Sure do miss her! Katie Steinbrecher (granddaughter) - "When I returned from San Francisco with my new (very large) tattoo, my parents weren't very happy. I had it covered as not to offend anyone, (especially my Grand-mas, who happened to be over). I helped Grandma with her luggage up to my room, where she normal-ly stayed when at our house. She said, "Alright, let's see it." So I showed her the Clara Bow portrait on my arm. She said something like, "I don't agree, but I think you should do what makes you happy. And it's very pretty." At that moment, I thought, wow, my Grandma really is THAT COOL. But, I was also so thankful to have that bit of acceptance. It made learn how to live with acceptance. I knew the storm of disapproval would pass eventually, but she just accepted, gave the few words I needed." Nate Steinbrecher (grandson) - Many know my grandma as Marilyn Hartung, Mom, or Grandma Marilyn, but to me, she was always Grandma Min. Marilyn became 'Grandma Min' because when I was younger-- two or three, I can't remember-- I couldn't pronounce her name. She simply became "Min,'" and nobody ever corrected me. She even signed her cards "Grandma Min!" It's funny to think about it, but I didn't realize until I was well into my teens that there wasn't anyone else besides my sisters and I that called her by this name. Thinking about it now, I know that Grandma didn't care what moniker we used; instead, she just wanted to ensure that we were loved and felt like a part of the family. Grandma Min was an inspiring person. She was especially passionate about her community and family. She was part of the Mequon's Women's Club and an avid volunteer at elections. I'd al-ways get a kick out of her introducing me to all her friends with such enthusiasm while I was vot-ing even though, in reality, I was fairly ordinary. But that was what was special about Grandma; family was everything. She was involved in all of her children's, grandchildren's, and great-grandchildren's lives. In many ways, she was the glue that held the family together, and I hope we will continue to appreciate and love each other as she did. As a true Steinbrecher, one of Grandma's most admirable traits was that she was tough as nails. Even after 2nd and 3rd degree burns at the age of 88, I never heard her feel sorry for herself or complain about her current health situation. Instead, she told stories about her family, friends, and life with a smile--so much so that the doctors had to put her into a medically induced coma so that she could heal. Grandma buried two husbands, lived alone, and had little money but I never heard her complain, wallow in pity, or fear for the future. Grandma always smiled and en-joyed the company around her. I'm certain that if Grandma was here today she would tell every-one to hold back the tears, appreciate her time on Earth, and be grateful for the family and friends that surround us. Some of my fondest memories of Grandma Min include: *Summer walks with Grandma and my cousins on Williamsburg Drive. Highlights included walking over the two bridges that span Pigeon Creek and visiting the subdivision's pond, looking for ducks, frogs, and turtles. *Visiting Grandma's apartment during Christmas. The house suffocated the occupants with the smoke of seven or eight chain smokers-- but the food was delicious, the laughs were hardy, and the presents were your reward for not annoying the parents. The grandchildren were relegated to a vinyl tarp, which stuck to our poor little thighs. It was chaotic, but it was a great time. *Waking up the morning after a sleepover with my cousins to French toast on the table and chocolate milk in those plastic animal cups that Grandma Min owned. Honestly, after she passed, the first items I looked for were those stupid, plastic animal cups. I'm sure I wasn't the only one to ask if they were still around. *Feeding the ducks puffed-rice with Grandpa and Grandma Johnson with Grandma Min at Thiensville Park. I was too young to realize it, but I hope I can take care of my parents as well as she did when I am that old. *Receiving cards from Grandma. She sent me a card for Valentine's Day, my birthday, Halloween, and Christmas. A little overboard? Yes, but I never questioned that I was loved or forgotten. *Setting up Grandma's Christmas tree with my Dad when Grandma Min became older. It was ob-vious that Christmas was one of her favorite times of the year. Perhaps it was her love for Jesus, but I tend to think it was because she loved being with us. *Eating cookies that Grandma would send me while I went to college in Oshkosh. The cookies always came in the raunchiest, old-woman shoebox, but I ate those cookies like a fat kid that'd been on a diet for three weeks. They were so good that I didn't even trade them for beer. *Becoming an owner of socks and underwear. Grandma was a master of gifts; I just didn't know that socks and underwear were so important until I recently realized that I don't own any pairs that fit me anymore. I guess I can't afford to gamble my socks away at Christmas anymore! *Desert: Strawberry Schaumtorte and German Chocolate Cake. I look around and I see Grandma in the people around me: Aunt Katie's mannerisms; Kerri's love of her family; Lori's Johnson-like appearance; Grandma's unconditional love for Renee; Katie Jo's taste in the vintage movies; Mary Kate's affection for dogs; Sam's knack for knitting and sewing; Lyla's Christmas cookies. Grandma's love of babies when looking at Arya. And I could go on... Grandma will be missed but not forgotten. We should all consider ourselves better for knowing her. Eric Steinbrecher (grandson) - I remember grandma as a person who loved being surrounded with family. With every birthday came a card in the mail. Being young grandma would let us sleep over by her house for the weekend; making us breakfast, taking us to the pool, or out shopping, it was always a pleasant get away! Grandma would tell us stories about her growing up, and how are family expanded to what it is now. Grandma could always make Glenn Jr. Smile with that "mil-lion dollar smile"! Over all grandma Marilyn was a kind person who loved being around her family. Nick and Eric Steinbrecher (grandsons) - We would always go over to grandma's house for a week during the summer and go swimming. Grandma would always be there for Eric and I when we were in cub scouts and boy scouts. She would make her angel food cake at the yearly Blue and Gold dinner ceremony. The cakes would be raffled to raise money for scouting outings. Grandma's cake would always sell for a high price! When Nick lived out in Mequon grandma would have me for dinner. She always told me story's about Grandpa Paul and her life. When I was think of changing careers (construction) she always told me "Don't you dare we need more men like you!" The endless barbecues at Uncle Gary's!! Grandma would always take Renee for a weekend. Renee would come home happy and excited. The endless knitting of blankets, sweaters, scarfs, mittens and slippers for her children, grandchildren and great grand-children. Cheering for her sons and grandsons during wrestling matches. The picnic she would pack for a weekend visit to Friess Lake. Sunday after church dinners she would make and the hot cereal before school on a cold winter's day. Sammie Steinbrecher (granddaughter) - When I was in kindergarten, grandma min would watch me after school a couple of times a week and she would always make my favorite meal or take me out for lunch and then we would go to the movies or she would rent a movie for us to watch. Glenn Scheele (son-in-law) - No "Mother-in-law" Jokes Please: I met Katie's parents in late 1969, when I started dating Katie. Katie's father passed away in January 1972, leaving Marilyn to finish raising Katie, Keith, Glenn and Gary by herself. No job or driver's license. I got her a deal on a new Hall Chevro-let Nova, where I worked before moving to Arizona with my bride Katie. I then gave her driving lessons. Ironically in 1974, she drove to Mequon and stayed, 2 years after I had left. Over the following years, she would visit Arizona in March and we would visit her in Wisconsin in July - a win/win situation. Re-cently, I crunched the numbers and conservatively estimated we spent 36 months (3 years) under the same roof! No wonder on occasion she would call me her fourth son. Having lost my mother in 2005, Marilyn stepped in as a Second mom for me! To an Angel, Love Glenn Scheele �' Earl Renwick (brother-in-law) - Marilyn, Queen of Grace: Marge and I were visiting Paul. Marilyn and family while vacationing in Milwaukee. Dinner was about ready to be served--richly Milwaukee style--but there would be a few minutes yet before we would be sitting down at the dinner table. Paul had an inspiration. He and I would have just enough time before dinner for him to show me a special car that would interest me. It's sitting in a driveway only a mile or so from the house. We could take a quick look and get back in time to sit down with the folks at the dinner table. So we left to see a special interest car. Yes, the car was a really beautiful Pontiac, just as Paul had said. We really wanted more time to look it over, but time was short--we still had a little more time, but we really felt that we should get back on time to sit down at the dinner table with the rest of the family. On the way back, since we had a few more minutes to spare. Paul suggested that we stop at a favorite tavern in the area for a beer. Certainly we would have just enough time for a beer. When we arrived home, the rest of the family was ready for desert. Paul and I came sheepishly crawling into the house in front of glaring eyes focused on us. Marilyn's eyes were focused on the food she had set aside for us on the stove, and was setting it on the table for us to eat while the rest of the families were into their desert already. She wanted to know what I thought of the car. If anyone can wear the mantle of the Queen of Grace, Marilyn certainly qualifies. In later years Marge had been calling Marilyn on the phone at 8:40 sharp every Saturday morning. This was her way of staying as close as possible to her family, many miles away in Milwaukee. Marge and I thought of her family and my family, both as being our families, and stayed in close touch with them. As cancer began to pull Marge down, the two girls continued their ritual of the Saturday morning phone calls at exactly 8:40. Marilyn, the trouper that she was, made two trips to Jacksonville to be with Margie during those trying times. Marilyn was with Marge at her hospital bedside up until the time of her transfer to Hospice care. For a reason that challenges one to define, I was moved to continue the practice of calling Marilyn, as Marge did, every Saturday at 8:40 AM. We talked every Saturday morning. She kept me informed not only about her activities, and she was busy, but also about the events in the lies of her children and their families. She was one proud mother. Marilyn, may I address you as the Queen of Grace, and thank you for you. Erle 2-7-15 COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS "A good friend to everyone and gave 100% of herself." "Always willing to drive her friends and run errands. When payment was offered she said 'What are friends for' " Mom, you will always be loved, remembered and missed.