Marilyn Judy Dawson
Marilyn Cornell Dawson Newaygo High spirited, fun loving, determined, generous and loving, beautiful inside and out. She was definitely one of a kind! On Saturday, June 5, 2021, Marilyn Cornell Dawson of Newaygo passed away at the age of 95. She was born in Chicago on December 30, 1925, the second of three children to Carl and Esther (Pederson) Hartmann. Her father immigrated to the United States as a young man and Marilyn was extremely proud of her Norwegian heritage. She graduated from Lucy Flower Technical High School in Chicago. She spent many of her childhood summers at the family cottage on Emerald Lake in Newaygo and after high school she moved to Newaygo permanently. Marilyn was a pin-up girl during World War II and was also one of the Robey Girls, which was part of the Rosie the Riveter project. (search “Robey Girls Newaygo Michigan” online). On August 11, 1946, she married Earl D. Cornell and they were blessed with four boys. Marilyn loved her days as a Cub Scout den mother, PTA mom, and was extremely proud of all her sons’ accomplishments in school and throughout their lives. Marilyn worked for many years as a nurse’s aide at Gerber Hospital, lovingly caring for patients. She especially loved working in OB helping to deliver babies and care for them in the hospital nursery. Over the years she also knitted many blankets for the veterans at the VA Home in Grand Rapids, along with countless beautiful handcrafted items for family and friends. Marilyn enjoyed travel and adventure, hosting gatherings for family and friends, and tending her beautiful flower gardens. She also enjoyed 30+ years wintering in Florida. But above all, she LOVED music and dancing! Always the optimist, she loved her life and treasured her family and many, many friends. On August 12, 1983, she married Philip Dawson. Sadly Phil passed away in December 1990, but he and Marilyn had a grand time during those few short years. Marilyn was also preceded in death by her son Wayne, her grandson Ryan, her sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Clair Rowe, her brother and sister-in-law Carl and Jean Hartmann, and special cousin Marge and her husband Bob Frederiksen. She is survived by sons Earl J. (Janis) Cornell, Donald (Susan) Cornell, Kevin (Paula) Cornell, daughters-in-law Deb Eardley and Carol Cornell, grandchildren Jonathon Cornell, James Cornell, Tracy Cornell Hager, Christine Cornell, Katherine (Brad) VanWyck, Justin (Tessa) Cornell, Kelsey Cornell, 17 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held on August 14 at 11:30 a.m. at Loomis Lodge in Newaygo. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution in Marilyn’s name to the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center, P.O. Box 361, Newaygo MI 49337.Obituary
Marilyn Cornell Dawson Newaygo High spirited, fun loving, determined, generous and loving, beautiful inside and out. She was definitely one of a kind! On Saturday, June 5, 2021, Marilyn Cornell Dawson of Newaygo passed away at the age of 95. She was born in Chicago on December 30, 1925, the second of three children to Carl and Esther (Pederson) Hartmann. Her father immigrated to the United States as a young man and Marilyn was extremely proud of her Norwegian heritage. She graduated from Lucy Flower Technical High School in Chicago. She spent many of her childhood summers at the family cottage on Emerald Lake in Newaygo and after high school she moved to Newaygo permanently. Marilyn was a pin-up girl during World War II and was also one of the Robey Girls, which was part of the Rosie the Riveter project. (search “Robey Girls Newaygo Michigan” online). On August 11, 1946, she married Earl D. Cornell and they were blessed with four boys. Marilyn loved her days as a Cub Scout den mother, PTA mom, and was extremely proud of all her sons’ accomplishments in school and throughout their lives. Marilyn worked for many years as a nurse’s aide at Gerber Hospital, lovingly caring for patients. She especially loved working in OB helping to deliver babies and care for them in the hospital nursery. Over the years she also knitted many blankets for the veterans at the VA Home in Grand Rapids, along with countless beautiful handcrafted items for family and friends. Marilyn enjoyed travel and adventure, hosting gatherings for family and friends, and tending her beautiful flower gardens. She also enjoyed 30+ years wintering in Florida. But above all, she LOVED music and dancing! Always the optimist, she loved her life and treasured her family and many, many friends. On August 12, 1983, she married Philip Dawson. Sadly Phil passed away in December 1990, but he and Marilyn had a grand time during those few short years. Marilyn was also preceded in death by her son Wayne, her grandson Ryan, her sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Clair Rowe, her brother and sister-in-law Carl and Jean Hartmann, and special cousin Marge and her husband Bob Frederiksen. She is survived by sons Earl J. (Janis) Cornell, Donald (Susan) Cornell, Kevin (Paula) Cornell, daughters-in-law Deb Eardley and Carol Cornell, grandchildren Jonathon Cornell, James Cornell, Tracy Cornell Hager, Christine Cornell, Katherine (Brad) VanWyck, Justin (Tessa) Cornell, Kelsey Cornell, 17 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held on August 14 at 11:30 a.m. at Loomis Lodge in Newaygo. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution in Marilyn’s name to the Newaygo County Museum and Heritage Center, P.O. Box 361, Newaygo MI 49337.
Events
11:30 AM
Newaygo, MI 49337
Newaygo, MI 49337