MARILYN M. CRISWELL
Marilyn Marie (Mundt) Criswell, 88, Chappell, NE, passed away July 9, 2016. Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, July 13th in the Chappell United Methodist Church with Rev. David Abbott officiating. Services will conclude at the church with cremation to follow and private family inurnment in the Chappell Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-7:00 P.M. at the church. Memorial contributions may be made in Marilyn’s name to the Chappell United Methodist Church or the Nebraska Children’s Home in Omaha. You may view Marilyn’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Marilyn’s care and funeral arrangements.
She was born in her home in Wynot, NE on October 20, 1927 to George and Doris (Maskell) Mundt. When Marilyn was 3 and her brother Donald was 10, their father died unexpectedly with complications from pneumonia. As a result, their mother went to work while Marilyn and her brother went to live with their grandparents, Andrew and Effie Maskell in Ponca, NE. They moved to Maskell, NE in 1931.
She graduated from Maskell High School in 1945. After high school, Marilyn enrolled in Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. This was the first time that Marilyn lived with her mother since her father’s death.
Marilyn transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to join her brother who had returned from WWII. Science was her favorite subject, so she elected to study as a dietician and received her Bachelor of Science Degree from UNL in 1949.
Another young man, Donald Criswell, had just returned from WWII and was attending UNL with an interest in agriculture. He was also interested in Marilyn the minute he laid eyes on her and had to find out who she was! Don and Marilyn became engaged and went to his home north of Chappell for Christmas of 1948 to meet his family during semester break. Two days after they arrived, the “Blizzard of ‘49” hit in full force, with snow drifts higher than the house and barn. Luckily the snow didn’t freeze Marilyn’s heart in terms of her feelings for Don. The happy couple was married on June 12, 1949 at the Presbyterian Church in Sioux City, IA. Sixty-five years later, they were still living happily married on the same farm where they spent their first snowy Christmas.
Marilyn was the loving mother of three children: Susan, Barbara, and Douglas. She ensured they had every opportunity to participate in church and school activities, 4-H clubs, music and swimming lessons. Going to town was a 25 mile round trip, so her commitment meant lots of miles and special time together traveling.
Marilyn was active and had leadership roles in the Chappell United Methodist Church, the Order of Eastern Star, P.E.O. Chapter CI, and the Social Hour Extension Club. Marilyn and Don farmed together, and she was famous for her dinners in the harvest field and box lunches in the tractor. Marilyn was an amazing cook, 4-H supporter, and avid football fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. What Marilyn enjoyed most was her family. She never missed an opportunity to tell someone the latest news about her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Donald Criswell; son Douglas (Karla) Criswell of Chappell; two daughters Barbara (John) Scharf of Curtis and Susan (Paul) Mahaffie of Sioux City IA; her brother Donald Mundt of Milwaukee, WI; grandchildren Lesley (Allen) Kruse of Mesa AZ, Stephanie (Daniel) Eckles of Lincoln, Logan and Jaden Criswell of Chappell, Sean Mahaffie of St. Paul, MN, and Hannah Mahaffie of Sioux City IA; five great grandchildren Logan, Emma, Marissa, and Scott Kruse, and Madeline Eckles; along with numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; mother and father in-law Arthur and Ruth Criswell; step-father Clarence (Hank) Kleeman, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Lloyd and Laurice Criswell, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Alice and Floyd Dominy.