Marilyn Jean (Keller) Krause, cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on December 16, 2025, and entered the presence of her Lord and Savior after a life beautifully defined by kindness, faith, and grace. She was born on November 5, 1936, to Clara Ruth Keller and Albert Ray Keller.

While in college, Marilyn met her soulmate, Gerald "Jerry" Krause. They were married on June 8, 1957, in Detroit, Michigan. For nearly seventy years, their marriage stood as a testament to steadfast and enduring love. Together, they raised their family in a home filled with music, laughter, warmth, and a strong trust in God. We find solace in knowing that Marilyn and Jerry are now reunited in God's loving arms.

Marilyn was a devoted and loving mother to her four sons: Ronald Krause (Jill), David Krause (Sindee), Richard Krause (Michelle), and Steven Krause (Heather). She was a proud grandmother to Nicholas Krause (Val), Stephanie (Sean) Leach, Jason Krause, and Michael Krause, and a delighted great-grandmother to Sadie, Skylar, and Sully.  Marilyn is also survived by her loving brother, Robert Keller.  Her family was her heart, and she poured herself into encouraging, supporting, and praying for each one of them.

God blessed Marilyn with many gifts and interests, and she embraced life with creativity and joy. She loved figure skating, playing the piano, reading, and singing in the church choir. She enjoyed ceramics and gardening and even became a master gardener, tending both her plants and the people around her with patience and care. Marilyn found joy in music and musicals, travel, golf, bocce ball, and square dancing with Jerry. Whatever she did, she brought a gentle enthusiasm and a welcoming spirit. She also dedicated many years to her professional career at Steelcase, where she worked with International Accounts before her retirement.

Wherever Marilyn lived, she knew her neighbors by name. She had a gift for building community—checking in, lending a hand, and staying in touch even after moving to a new place. Marilyn quietly lived out the command to "love your neighbor," and many people experienced God's love through her friendship, listening ear, and open heart.

In her later years, Marilyn faced a ten-year journey with Alzheimer's. Even after she could no longer speak, she continued to bless those around her with a radiant smile and a familiar thumbs-up. Her quiet courage and enduring sweetness during that time were a testimony to the deep well of grace within her and to the faith that carried her throughout her life.

Marilyn's faith in Jesus Christ was the steady foundation of her life. She worshiped and served alongside Jerry at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Kentwood, Michigan, and later at Vista de la Montana United Methodist Church in SaddleBrooke, Arizona. In retirement, Marilyn and Jerry treasured their years in Arizona—enjoying the sunshine, traveling together, and forming new friendships—before returning to Michigan to be closer to the family they loved so dearly.

She will be remembered for her kindness, her gentle spirit, her love of beauty in music and nature, her devotion to Jerry, and the way she made every place she lived feel like home. Those who knew her give thanks to God for the gift of her life and the example she set of a life well-loved and well-lived.

"The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
— Mark 12:31

We rejoice that Marilyn is now at peace in the presence of the Lord, reunited with Jerry, and we hold fast to the hope that we will one day be reunited with them in heaven.

VISITATION AND MEMORIAL SERVICE

Visitation for both Marilyn and Jerry will be held at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1934 52nd Street SE, Kentwood, MI 49508 on Saturday, December 20, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon to be served afterward at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. https://alzfdn.org/