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Marjorie Joan LaDuke

Marjorie J. LaDuke, age 82, died peacefully at The Lutheran Home in River Falls, WI, surrounded by her family. From her birth on July 19th, 1934 to her death on September 22nd, 2016 she nourished people around her with love, faith, laughter and kindness. She was born in Alma, WI to Clarence and Beulah (Murry) Serum and was the oldest of four children. After graduating from Mondovi High School in 1952, she attended and graduated from Buffalo County Teachers College in Alma, WI. Marge taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade for three years at the Modena Elementary school, Modena, WI, and 1st grade in Ellendale, MN for two years.

On November 12th, 1960 she was united in marriage to Elmer Reid LaDuke at the Modena Lutheran Church. They were truly each other’s soul mate and loved doing everything together! They had two children, daughter Sharon and son Mark. The family loved spending time together taking trips to South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan, and Wisconsin Dells. The family moved from St. Paul, MN to River Falls, WI in 1977. Their final family trip was to California to visit sister Florence Shea, in 2011. Marge and Elmer made a priority of attending the sporting events and activities of their children. In later years, they proudly attended their grandchildren’s activities. They loved to spend time at one of their favorite places on this earth, Serum Valley, in Modena, WI.

Marge was a loving and supportive wife to her husband Elmer for 56 years. She was always there for her children and grandchildren and they were so very blessed to have her. She and Elmer always stood in the doorway of their home and waved as the kids drove away. At the end of a visit, Elmer and Marge always made the kids promise to call when they made it home safely. Marge’s daily phone calls, hugs, and smiles will be greatly missed.

Marge was so thoughtful and always welcomed new neighbors and new babies with baked goods and gifts. She truly lived the Commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. She loved to cook, bake, and entertain family and friends. She played the piano by ear and she and daughter, Sharon, played and sang at many area nursing homes. She loved to laugh, joke, and play her favorite card games, 500 and Tick. She would also not miss Wheel of Fortune.

When her children were older, she got a job at the Lutheran Home Care Center in River Falls, WI and worked as a dietary aide for 16 years. She was Employee of the Year in 1993.

She and Elmer were very active in their church, Ezekiel Lutheran. They helped serve at funerals, peeled potatoes for Lefsa, folded and delivered bulletins, newsletters, and cookies to area nursing homes and she was long a member of the Sarah circle. She was also an Auxiliary member of the American Legion Post 121 in River Falls.

Marge was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Beulah Serum; brother, David Serum; brothers-in-law, Roger LaDuke, Milton LaDuke, Roy LaDuke, Paul LaDuke, Donald Shea, and sister-in-law, Joyce LaDuke.

She will forever live in the hearts of her husband, Elmer; children, Sharon (Steve) Freitag of Baldwin, WI, and Mark (Karen) of St. Michael, MN; grandchildren, Lucas, Jadyn, Brianna, and Joshua; brother, Robert (Meg) Serum of Modena, WI; sister, Betty (Frank) Vogler of Trego, WI; brother-in-law, Ralph LaDuke; sisters-in-law, Florence Leefeldt, Marian LaDuke, Joyce LaDuke, Florence Shea, and many loved nieces, nephews and friends.

A celebration of life service for Marge is 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at Ezekiel Lutheran Church, River Falls, WI, with a visitation 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 27 at Ezekiel Lutheran Church and also one hour prior to the funeral service. A private burial will take place on Thursday, September 29 in the Oak Park Cemetery, Mondovi, WI.

Pallbearers for Marge are nephews, Steve Serum, Curtis LaDuke, Todd LaDuke, and cousins, Jerry Goss, Jerry Serum and Scott Schwarz. Honorary Pallbearers are her grandchildren, Luke Freitag, Brianna LaDuke, Joshua LaDuke, and Jadyn Freitag.

Cashman-Hill Funeral Home & Cremation Service of River Falls, WI is assisting the family.