Marilyn Ann Kuppler passed away at Good Samaritan Home on July 26, 2024. Marilyn was born at Alliance, Ohio on February 19, 1930, the oldest daughter of Wade and Ruth Freshley Hoover. Her only sister Judy Haley predeceased her. Following graduation from Alliance High School she followed several uncles to North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, from which she graduated in 1952. She was an accomplished musician and was the first woman student body president at North Central. She later received her Masters from Western Illinois University.

Following graduation Marilyn took a job teaching in the small Prairie town of Somonauk, west of Chicago. She had two sisters in her first class who had an older brother, Charles, who also sang in the church choir where she was the organist. They married in 1954, followed by a stint in the US Army in Germany, where their first son, Karl, was born. They returned to the farm at Somonauk where a second son, Kevin, followed. In 1965 they moved to Quincy, Illinois, which became her home for the next 60 years. Charles passed away in 1985.

Marilyn taught in Quincy, first at Highland Riverside and mainly as librarian at the Quincy Junior High School until she retired in 1992. She coached Quiz Bowl for many years with much success, winning Regional and Sectional titles. After retirement, she worked in the reference department at the Quincy Public Library for several years.

She traveled with friends and family and was active in various groups, especially with her church First (now Faith) Presbyterian, where she served as an elder, in the choir and teaching Mrs. Kuppler’s adult Sunday School class for 50 years. She served as President of both Delta Kappa Gamma and the Adam’s County Retired Teachers Association and was an active volunteer with the Historical Society, RSVP and the Blessing Hospital Tea Room. She loved reading, golf, following her beloved Cubs baseball and Ohio State football, grandchildren and music. She played piano, organ and cello.

She is survived by her sons Karl (Cheryl) of Fernandina Beach, Florida and Kevin (Jane) of Monticello, Illinois, four grandchildren, Katie (Matt) Wavering, Mary (Adam) Heller, Jacob Kuppler and Peter (Anna) Kuppler and great grandchildren Annabelle and Charles Wavering, Cameron, Trey and Penelope Heller and John Kuppler. Her parents, sister and husband predeceased her.

A Memorial Service will be held at Faith Presbyterian on August 24, 2024, at 11 am, with visitation at 10:30 preceding the service. Memorials may be made to Faith Presbyterian, Good Samaritan Home or to the charity of the donor’s choice. The family wants to especially thank the many caregivers at Good Samaritan and Faith Presbyterian who assisted Marilyn over the past several years.