Marvel Gregerson

Marvel Gregerson, 100, passed away on April 9, 2025 at the Baldwin Care Center. Marvel was born in Aberdeen, SD on April 22, 1924. She was the third child and only daughter to Verne and Bernice (Andrus) Preble. She moved with her family to Woodville, WI, in 1931 when she was 7 years old. It was a day long trip in a Whippet car.

Marvel moved many times once in Wisconsin. She finished first grade in Woodville and second grade in Hersey. After third grade she moved to the East Baldwin, one room school. That is where she met her future husband, Keith. Marvel’s family moved three more times before coming back to the East Baldwin school again for eighth grade. When she was a sophomore at Baldwin High School, Keith asked her to go to a show, and they were a couple from then on. She said movies then were 10 cents, and a lemon or cherry coke was 5 cents. She made a pink dotted-swiss formal dress for $5.00.

Marvel graduated from Baldwin High School in 1942 as Salutatorian of the class. Then in the fall of 1942, she went to a business school in Minneapolis to learn to type better, do shorthand, and bookkeeping. She worked for her room and board at a home in South Minneapolis and rode street cars to and from school. She got engaged at Christmas in 1942 and married Keith Gregerson on June 12, 1943. Shortly after they were married, they took over a small farm from Keith’s parents. She said “It took a wonderful guy to get a city girl to move to an old farm house, with no indoor plumbing”. While living on the farm, Marvel, along with Freida Jensen and Cora Thompson, started the Harmony Hill 4-H club. Marvel and Keith lived on that small dairy farm until they sold it in 1966. In 1968 Marvel and Keith bought the Dairy Queen in Baldwin, and owned it for eight years. After selling the Dairy Queen, Marvel worked for the Baldwin-Woodville Schools, as a secretary for eleven years.

Marvel was also a long-time member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, a Sunday School Teacher, and a member of the Circles and the Quilters Guild. She was also a gifted seamstress and quilter and submitted entries at the St. Croix County Fair up through 2024. She also enjoyed many hobbies including painting, gardening and baking. Marvel loved to travel with her husband to many of the states, as well as to Norway, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and Russia.

She was preceded in death by husband of 70 years, Keith Gregerson, her son Robert (Linda), her granddaughter Cindy, step-great-grandson Levi, her parents Verne and Bernice, her brothers Lyle, Glenn, and Dale Preble, former daughter-in-laws, Wendy and Debra.

Marvel is survived by sons Gary (Velda) Gregerson of Sioux Falls, SD; Doug (Connie) Gregerson of Buffalo, MN; Rich (Linda) Gregerson of Amery, WI; Brian (LaJuan) of Elwood, NE; and daughter-in-law Linda Gregerson of Prior Lake, MN. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, step grandchildren, and step great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service celebrating Marvel’s life will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025 at Gethsemane Lutheran church in Baldwin, WI. Visitation will be held from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. with a service starting at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the family and will be shared with Marvel’s favorite causes. If you are unable to attend Marvel’s service, you may mail cards to: O’Connell Funeral Home, Care of Marvel Gregerson Family, 1010 Newton St, Baldwin, WI, 54002, to be forwarded on your behalf.