Earl M. Marx, formerly of Horicon and Beaver Dam, passed away due to congestive heart failure on Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at the age of 87 at Clearview in Juneau.
Earl, known to many as “Merlin”, was born at home May 1, 1924 in Rolling Prairie, WI, the 8th of 13 children born to Richard and Lena (Lentz) Marx.
In early 1942 he enlisted in the Army to serve in World War II. He served at military bases in California and England, and would eventually be deployed to France on “D-Day +9” (June 15, 1944) where his unit moved to the frontlines. He was wounded by shrapnel in Germany and was awarded the Purple Heart. He recovered quickly from his bodily wounds, but he suffered from the mental and emotional wounds of war for the rest of his life.
He returned to civilian life in December of 1945, took a job with The Milwaukee Road railroad, and his love of trains and the railroad never ended.
On September 13, 1947 he married Marilyn Johnson of Horicon. Soon his work took them away from Horicon to many locales in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. He eventually left the railroad due to illness and the family returned to Horicon for good in 1955.
He worked with other employers, but chronic illness repeatedly interfered. In 1963 he became totally and permanently disabled. He and his wife continued to live in Horicon until moving to Beaver Dam in 2005. After the death of his wife in 2008 he moved to Clearview where he spent the rest of his days.
The loves of his life were his wife, his children, the music of Hank Williams, the railroad, the Chicago Cubs, and America.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, his parents, brothers, Ruben, Orville, Byron, Lester and Richard, sisters Florence Schulze, Edna Bendrin, Marion Hron, and Betty Boldt, grandson Erik Marx, great-grandson Mason Werner, and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
He is survived by sons Peter of East Windsor, NJ, Randall (Clara) of Juneau, and Stewart of Beaver Dam, daughter Elizabeth (Mark) Werner of Beaver Dam, brother Robert (Mary) of CO, sisters Beatrice (Duane) Krueger of Horicon, and Carol Kurtz of West Bend, 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
The visitation will be at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Horicon on Friday, August 5, 2011 from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. The funeral service will follow at the church on Friday at 11:00 AM with Rev. Mark Hasty officiating. Earl will be buried next to his wife at Oakwood Cemetery in Horicon. Military honors will be provided by the Horicon American Legion Post #157.
The family asks that you honor Earl by placing a flag at the grave of any military veteran.
The Murray Funeral Home, 716 Clinton Street in Horicon, is caring for the family. To leave condolences, for directions, or for other information, please visit our website at www.MurrayFH.com.
Visitation Details
Friday, August 5th, 2011, 10:00am – 11:00am, Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Horicon
Service Details
Friday, August 5th, 2011, 11:00am, Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Horicon
Interment Details
Oak Hill Cemetery-Horicon