Marylin (Zorn) Thomas

Marylin (Zorn) Thomas, age 86, passed away peacefully at Dunklau Gardens Hospice on July 8, 2021.  She was born on August 31, 1934, to Floyd and Agnes (Coupe) Zorn in Falls City, Nebraska, and attended school in Falls City.  She worked at Hinky Dinky grocery store and Boys Town prior to her marriage to Daniel D. Thomas on January 15, 1955.  She and Dan moved to Fremont in 1957 and belonged to Fremont Alliance Church, where both were involved in the International Students, Awanas, and Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) ministries. They came to know, love, and “adopt” many of the international students from various countries. In MOPS, they worked primarily with two-year-olds. Both Marylin and Dan loved little ones, and their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were the joy of their lives.

Marylin befriended all she met and had many friendships and contacts that started as incidental greetings over the pharmacy counter, at the grocery store, in the neighborhood and, until Dan passed, in the campgrounds where they so loved to camp in Wyoming and Colorado.  She had a gift of listening and an uncanny memory for details of those she talked with, remembering names and ages of children, prayer needs, and other conversation topics so that she could be a compassionate and informed conversationalist on the next visit.

Marylin is preceded in death by her parents; husband Dan: sisters Dorothy Koelzer and Angie Hussenoeder, and several great grandchildren. 

She is survived by sister, Jo Austin of Hesperia, California; daughters, Terese (Jim) Hill of Fremont, Diane Thomas of Laramie, Wyoming, and Elle Thomas of Longmont, Colorado;  grandchildren, David Hill, Sarah (Chris) Caughorn, and Rachel (Mike) Real, all of Fremont; Danny (Jennifer) Birdsell of Loveland, Colorado, Kaleigh Birdsell of Longmont, Colorado, and Colton Birdsell of North Branch, Minnesota;  great grandchildren Selah, Mikaiah, Josiah, and Ezra Caughorn, and Matthew, Ethan, and Emilee Real;  and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service, Fremont Alliance Church, July 12, 2021 at 2:00 P.M.

Memorials suggested to the family for future designation to Fremont Alliance foreign missionaries.

Condolences may be left at duganchapel.com

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