Marilyn Ann Ecken

Marilyn Ann Ecken of Caro, age 86, passed away Friday, June 5, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was born March 29, 1940, in Flint, MI and moved at a young age to the family centennial farm in New Lothrup, Michigan. After high school, she felt called to join the convent of the Dominican Sisters in Grand Rapids and attended Aquinas College. She taught for a year in Albuquerque, New Mexico before returning to teach at Sacred Heart parish in Saginaw, Michigan. She befriended the young assistant priest there, and three years later followed him from religious life to family life. She married John Francis Ecken on July 10, 1970, and created their own musical group with the addition of four daughters.

Marilyn taught for 21 years in Caro Schools, primarily as a first grade special reading teacher. She assisted with Brownies and Girl Scouts and was an activator - always with a project in mind and rarely sitting down - but in the summers and on holidays, she spent time cooking, reading, shopping and watching soaps with her girls. She was dedicated to motherhood, at one point having 4 kids under the age of 4 and foster children also in the home.

After retirement, Marilyn and John became Winter Texans, spending half the year in Mission, TX with a busy social and volunteer schedule. Early on, Marilyn loved to go to an orphanage across the border in Mexico, teaching and volunteering. Later, they switched to volunteering in a neighboring school as well as teaching English as a Second Language in their home; Marilyn also served as a long term volunteer at South Texas Oncology. She was an active member of the El Valle del Sol park council, serving on the board and volunteering for pancake breakfasts, Saturday night dances and weekly potluck dinners. She and John regularly attended music jams and she was a fierce card shark in their evening card game schedule.

Marilyn and John returned to Michigan in May each year to spend time with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and made an effort to get to tennis and golf matches, baseball games, violin concerts and other activities. Marilyn especially enjoyed spending time reading on the deck at the cottage in Caseville.

Marilyn leaves behind a legacy of 55+ years of marriage to John before he preceded her in death on January 14, 2026. They had four daughters: Renee (Darrin) Wagner, Kay (Brian) Schuetter, Lou (Joey) Ecken Kidd, and Gina (Kevin) Wolma, as well as 5 grandchildren: Nikki (Jake) Moran, Tyler Wagner, Jordan Wolma, Kayla Wolma and Kelsey Wolma; and 2 great-grandchildren, Finn and Cole. The family was able to be together to share a beautiful Christmas together in Texas, then Marilyn was able to spend several additional months enjoying ice cream, snow angels, dyed hair, diamond art, and family time in Brighton, Michigan as well.

A joint funeral mass for Marilyn and John will be Saturday, June 13, 2026, at St. Christopher Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Caro, Michigan. Visitation will be from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. prior to the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon to follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Elara Caring Hospice Foundation, to the St. Christopher Food Pantry (Caro) or Salvation Army of Mission, TX (Hidalgo County).