Marilyn Jean (Pierce) Walquist, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, was reunited with her late husband when she passed into Heaven on March 2, 2023. Marilyn was just 75 years old.

Marilyn was born to Lorenzo and Pauline (Tonetti) Pierce on December 14, 1947, in Topeka, KS. After graduating from Lyndon High School, she attended Emporia State University.

Her life centered around her family. On August 28, 1966, Marilyn married her high school sweetheart, Wayne Walquist. The couple raised 3 daughters; Amy, Carrie and Megan and always welcomed extras to their home. The family traveled many, many miles showing livestock and attending school activities for the girls. Avid K-State fans, the Walquist family enjoyed season tickets to football, including the pre-game tailgates with friends, and occasional halftime breaks with other K-Staters. Truly, Marilyn did not know a stranger and the football games were no different. Marilyn was one of the biggest, and sometimes loudest, sports fan.

Helping others was not only Marilyn's passion but her profession. She partnered with Wayne in Wayne's Clothing, helped pick out last minute Christmas gifts at Beatty's Western Wear, and spent many years greeting patients at Cotton O'Neil Clinic in Carbondale. Her compassion and care for others was recognized in 2003 when she was awarded the Manuel E. & Anne B Pustiz Award from Stormont Vail HealthCare.

A lifelong resident of Lyndon, Marilyn lived her adult life just across the street from her childhood home. She was very active in the community – a member of Jaycee Jane's, a community leader for the Lyndon Leaders 4-H club, a coach for the girls' softball teams, and so much more. In her retirement, she volunteered for Meals on Wheels and helped the Lyndon United Methodist Women with numerous outreach efforts.

Some of Marilyn's greatest joys were dancing with Wayne and traveling with friends.

She will be forever cherished by her family: daughter Amy (Chris) Eichem, Wamego; daughter Carrie Shaffer, Richmond and granddaughters Shelbye Fish, Morgan (Cadin) Bolinger and Taylor Jilek; great grandchildren Harper Fish, Layton and Maisyn Bolinger; daughter Megan (Tim) Kilgore, Lyndon and grandson Gage; brother in-law Bruce (Cindy) Walquist, Cleburne, TX; as well as Buddy – the 4-legged family member.

A celebration of life will be held Wednesday, March 8 at 11:00 am at Feltner Funeral Home in Lyndon, KS. The visitation will be Tuesday, March 7 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Marilyn Walquist Memorial Fund, to be designated by the family for breast cancer and Alzheimer's research.