Marjorie Koleski

Marjorie Jane Koleski, age 93 of Traverse City, entered eternal life on October 19, 2014. She passed away in the comfort of her home at Boardman Lake Glens Inverness under the loving care of her children, the Inverness staff, and Hospice of Michigan.

Marjorie was born February 22, 1921 in Crystal Falls, Michigan to Wesley and Angelina Twa. She was the eldest of three children. Upon graduating from Watersmeet Township High School in 1939, Marjorie attended Michigan State University, graduating in 1943 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Clothing and Textiles, Related Arts and Merchandising. Her interests and early career took Marge to JL Hudsons in Detroit in 1934, and Shell Refinery in Texas in 1945. After WWII she was employed as a writer for Sunset Magazine in San Francisco California.

On October 15, 1948 Marge married Edward Anthony Koleski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and they returned to Watermeet to live. They raised three children. Edward preceded her death in 1991. Marge played bridge, was a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother, and worked at the Gateway in Land O’ Lakes, WI as a hostess in charge of the dining room and staff. She kept the basement shelves stocked with home canned vegetables and fruits. She loved to enjoy meals with her family on the patio.

Being a lifelong learner, Marjorie returned to college and graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1970 with a Master’s Degree in Education. For sixteen years, beginning in 1969, she taught Home Economics, Art and English in the Ewen Trout Creek School System , and continued as a substitute teacher in Watersmeet until 1994.

For 47 years Marge sang in the choir and was a member of the Altar Society at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watersmeet. When she moved to Traverse City in 1995 she became a member of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish. For ten years she served as a docent at the Dennos Museum and also sang as a member of the Grand Traverse Sweet Adeline Chorus. . Marge traveled to Europe twice, especially enjoying Spain on her last trip.

Marge loved flowers, bright colors, classical and operatic music, creating and sewing clothing for herself, her children and friends, designing and hand quilting wall hangings, interior design, and cats. She continued her love of reading and learning through her “talking books” as macular degeneration slowly took her sight.

Marjorie is survived by daughters Maralee Koleski (Adrian, MI), Frances West (Traverse City, MI) and son Jon and wife Debbie (Golden Valley, MN). She will be also be remembered by her two grandsons, Aaron Wright (Ann Arbor, Michigan) and Edward J. Koleski (Minneapolis, MN), her sister Patricia Green (Clarkston, MI), many nieces and nephews, dear and cherished friends, and beloved feline friend Jewel. Her brother Robert Twa passed away last year, and son-in-law William West in 2006.

A memorial service for Marjorie will be held at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Traverse City on November 15 with visitation from 10 a.m. and mass at 11 a.m. A celebration of her life will follow at the Dennos Museum Janice room. Memorial contributions in Marjorie’s name may be sent to AC Paws P.O. Box 94 Acme, MI 49610, who care for animals in need. The family chose Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City.