Marilyn B. Van Order, 80, 209 Sunrise Ave., Park Ridge, died unexpectedly Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at Ministry St. Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 26, at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Stevens Point, with the Rev. Marcin Mankowski officiating. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 a.m. Monday until the services.
A memorial in her name will be established at a later date.
Pisarski/Dzikoski Funeral Home of Stevens Point assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be offered online at www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.
Mrs. Van Order was born Aug. 1, 1931, in Racine, a daughter of the late Bernice and William Gossage. As a young girl, she moved with her parents to Wausau and a short time later the family moved to Stevens Point. She attended local schools and was a 1949 graduate of P.J. Jacobs High School. As a young woman, she worked at her father's shoe store. She went on to receive a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
She was married to Robert Van Order on Dec. 12, 1952, in Dubuque, Iowa. He died in 2009.
The couple settled in Milwaukee before returning to Stevens Point in 1958.
During the course of her career, she taught in a number of schools in the Stevens Point School District, primarily at Washington School.
She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church Rosary Society-Rose 16.
Survivors include four daughters, Gale (Kim) Chartier, Middleton, Jill (John) Gates, Racine, Lisa (Paul) Tokatlidis, Melbourne, Australia, and Holly (Craig) Becker, Taylors, S.C.; three sons, Dean, Stevens Point, Todd (Marilyn), La Crosse, and Scott (Dayna), Parker, Colo.; one brother, John Gossage, Stevens Point; and 17 grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Heidi, in 1980; and one sister, Carole.