Marvelle L. (Simpson) STEWART BORTZ

BORTZ, SIMPSON, MARTIN, STEWART, FRAKES, OLSON, MOLLING, LUECK, FORSTRUM, GIESER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/20/2009 at 08:29:27

La Crosse Tribune, Wisconsin
May 1, 2006

West Salem, Wis. — Marvelle L. Bortz, 86, of West Salem died Saturday, April 29, 2006, at Bethany-St. Joseph Care Center, La Crosse. She was born Nov. 26, 1919, in Renwick, Iowa, to Edward and Lucy (Martin) Simpson. On Oct. 9, 1942, she married George Stewart, and he preceded her in death Sept. 9, 1971. She then married Everett “Bill” Bortz on Dec. 17, 1977, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 7, 2000.

Marvelle owned and operated Klip n Kurl Beauty Salon in Brooten, Minn., for many years. She retired when she was 55, and in 1979, Marvelle and her husband, Bill, moved to West Salem to be close to her family and also to be a big part of her grandchildren’s lives. Marvelle was a member of the Presbyterian Church of West Salem, where she was famous for her bread pudding dessert at the church’s salad luncheons. She enjoyed crafts and playing dice and cards, which she loved to win. Marvelle was greatly loved by her family and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include two daughters, Pamela (Dennis) Frakes of Guymor, Okla., and Valerie (James) Olson of West Salem; six grandchildren, Richard “Rick” Olson, Jamie (Donna) Olson, Angela (Ryan) Molling, Scott (Debbie) Frakes, Jack (Elizabeth) Frakes, and Christopher (Alice) Frakes; eight great-grandchildren, twins Cameron and Brandon Olson, and their mother, Shannon, Amber Olson and Matt Lueck, and their mother, Becky, Isaac Olson, and Courtney, Ryan, and Adam Frakes; two great-grandchildren on the way; two brothers, Reuben Simpson and Harold (Ann) Simpson; a sister, Ione Forstrum; nieces and nephews; a step-son, Stephen (Rhea) Bortz; other step-children, step-grandchildren, relatives and friends, including the family of her son-in-law, Jim, whose family lovingly accepted her as one of their own. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Rex (Gertie), Arnold (Delores) and Edward (Fern) Simpson; two sisters, Cleone (Virgil) Irwin and Norma (Lloyd) Gieser; a sister-in-law, Blanche Simpson; and two brothers-in-law, Elmer Forstrum and John Stewart.

Funeral services will be Thursday, May 4, at noon at the Presbyterian Church of West Salem, 625 W. Franklin St. Pastor Stephanie M. Steiner will officate. Burial will be in Neshonoc Cemetery. Friends may call at the Presbyterian Church of West Salem on Thursday from 11 a.m. until the time of service. Jostad-Jandt Funeral Home, West Salem, is in charge of arrangements.