Marilyn Yvonne Loeffler, 86, of Newton Kansas died on January 26, 2023 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS. Marilyn was born, January 31, 1936 to 8Christian and Katherine Hodel in Hillsboro, KS. She attended Hillsboro Schools until her family moved to Newton KS in 1948.
Marilyn went to the University of Kansas where she met Warren O’Toole whom she married in 1955. He preceded her in death in 1959. After moving back to Newton, Marilyn later married Erwin Loeffler on December 28, 1962. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Marilyn is survived by her husband, Erwin Loeffler, Roberta Loeffler (Tim Fey), Kevin (Carmen) Loeffler, Mark (Cheryl) Loeffler, Karen (Marc) Morrison, and by 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters, Ellagene Regier and JoAnn Roberts. Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Warren O’Toole, her first husband, and infant twin daughters Beth and Betsy.
Marilyn received her BSE from WSU in 1975. She taught 5th grade at Santa Fe Middle School, in USD 373 Newton Schools. After her 1st year in teaching she was offered a position as a librarian. In 1981 Marilyn received her Masters in Library Science from Emporia State University. She worked in Newton Public Schools as a librarian at Washington, Northridge, Lincoln and Walton Schools and at the Instructional Materials Center where she had some administration duties. She enjoyed working with the teachers and administrators in USD 373. She was also an active member of NEA – Newton. Marilyn retired from USD 373 in 1995.
In retirement, Marilyn and Erwin traveled to many places and were part of the Kansas Winnebagos (Kansas Winnies) group where they made great friends and traveling companions. Highlights of those trips included: traveling the Lewis and Clark trail, touring Alaska, the Albuquerque balloon festival, and the annual national meeting in Iowa.
In the past year, Marilyn and Erwin moved to the Presbyterian Manor apartments in Newton and became active members of that community.
Marilyn was part of a Mothers Evening Out club that still met even after they all became grandmothers and great grandmothers. She continued to go out on lunch dates with colleagues and friends and was great about calling on those that could not go out as often anymore. She was a great friend, mom, grandma, and great grandma.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Bethel College Mennonite Church. Promotion of reading literacy and free libraries was a goal of Marilyn’s. She would be honored by donations to the Newton Public Library, Imagination Library, Reading is Fundamental, or any publiclibrary.
