Marilynn Kay Horsman, of Prior Lake, passed away on January 28, 2015 at the age of 64. A visitation is Tuesday, February 3, 2015 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake. The Celebration of Life Service is Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation. Jean Breeggemann will preside. Pall bearers for Marilynn are Debbie Burgoyne, Janine Johnson, Jenny Ersland, Jessie Garnett, John Horsman, and Mara Kuhlmann. Marilynn has asked to be cremated and her ashes will be laid to rest at a future date.
In Minneapolis on July 9, 1950 Wayne and Elinor Howland celebrated the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Marilynn Kay at Saint Barnabas Hospital. The family moved to Crystal, then later Golden Valley. She was the middle of three children and had fond memories of growing up with her siblings Warren and Debbie. As a child, Marilynn loved playing outdoors at Theodore Wirth Park in Golden Valley. She also enjoyed summer trips up to Togo, MN to visit her Aunt and cousins and family.
Marilynn was delivered a life altering event in February 4 th of 1964 when her beloved father Wayne was killed in a railroad yard accident.
Marilynn attended Robbinsdale High School and graduated in 1968. July 5 th 1969 she married Gordy Kaeppe, and they were blessed with three children, Jenny, Josh and Jeff. Marilynn and Gordy raised their family in North Minneapolis. Eventually Marilynn and Gordy went their separate ways.
When the kids were in school, Marilynn began working outside the home. She worked as hairdresser, cook, cashier, and returned-check investigator. She also worked at a pool and taught babies to swim. She worked for eight years at Thomson Reuters as a Key Accounts Customer Service Representative. She spent 22 years working at Byerly’s grocery store.
While working at Byerly’s Marilynn met the love of her life, John Horsman. Marilynn had been injured trying to protect her pet poodle from another dog. John heard about this so he called to check on her, and the rest is history. After 17 years together, John and Marilynn exchanged wedding vows on February 23, 2002 in Florida when they eloped on a cruise ship to the Caribbean.
John and Marilynn loved to travel together. They visited many exotic locations where they were able to pursue their joint passion for scuba diving. Throughout the years they went to Europe, Hawaii, Costa Rica and a number of trips all over the US and the Caribbean. Marilynn also had wonderful trips with friends to places like China and Alaska. Marilynn was a gifted artist, a skilled gardener and visionary landscaper. Marilynn spent as much time as she could in her beautiful flower gardens. She had exceptional vision and an extraordinary knack for color and design. She could build decks, lay ceramic tile, roof houses, paint artistically, and seemed to effortlessly pick up new talents. Marilynn was a very elegant, poised and refined lady. She was a beautiful woman who took great care with her appearance, and had an exceptional sense of fashion and style. Marilynn was also an exceptional seamstress. She truly was the whole package.
In 2003 Marilynn was diagnosed with lymphoma, and she battled this disease for many years. In 2015 she was also diagnosed with leukemia. Marilynn endured much pain and suffering, but she never lost her positive spirit and determination to beat the disease. Over the past few months she received excellent care from the staff at Mayo Hospital in Rochester. In the afternoon of Wednesday, January 28, 2015 Marilynn’s suffering came to an end. She passed away peacefully in her husband’s arms, looking into his eyes, surrounded by family.
Marilynn was a hard-working and intelligent woman with a creative spirit. She was a loving wife, caring mother and a wonderful friend. Marilynn was fun loving, courageous, always willing to help, and optimistic. She will be deeply missed and always remembered lovingly by her husband John, children Jennifer (Nate) Ersland, Josh (Leah) Kaeppe, Jeff (Tay) Kaeppe; 8 grandchildren; mother Elinor Howland; siblings Warren (Amy) Copp, Debbie (Mick) Burgoyne; dearest friend Ellen Jane Barry, and many other loving relatives and friends. Marilynn is preceded in death by her father, Wayne Copp Howland.
The Horsman family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation.
