Marjorie “Marjie” Jurgens Demarais, age 77 of Chatham Township, passed away Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at her home surrounded by the love of her family.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Maple Lake. The memorial service will be private.
Burial will be held at a later date at Marysville Catholic Cemetery in Marysville Township. In honor of Marjie, memorials may be directed to a cancer research or support organization of your choice.
Marjorie June Fenske was born June 5, 1947, in New Ulm, Minnesota to Wilfred and Erna (Jannicke) Fenske. Marjie grew up on a farm in Gibbon, Minnesota and was the youngest of six children. She was a graduate of Gibbon High School. Marjie started her family in Cokato before settling in Maple Lake for just over 20 years. She and her husband Tommy have resided in Chatham Township for the last 25 years of her life, always close to her loving family.
Marjie dedicated her life to raising her children. She retired from Bernatello’s in 2005 and could be found tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, getting lost in a good book, or talking for hours to her sisters and daughters on the phone. Marjie was a great listener and never judged. Friday nights if you were lucky enough, you would catch her dancing with her husband Tommy to The Beach Boys or a classic waltz in the shed. From sharing recipes with her sisters to making salsa and rhubarb jelly, it was always special when you were able to spend time with her; she always loved the one she was with! Throughout Marjie’s lifetime, she exemplified grace and determination, leaving a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing her. She had a ready smile for everyone, never forgot a birthday, and enjoyed having her family over for get-togethers. Her sparkling blue eyes never failed to light up when one of her loved ones was near and she will forever be cherished by her family.
Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her husband, Thomas (Tommy) Demarais of Chatham Township; children: Jacalyn (Mark) Wurm of Maple Lake, Arthur (Berenice) Jurgens of Buffalo, Bret (Naomi) Jurgens of Maple Lake, Chad (Megan) Jurgens of Maple Lake, Holly (Scott) Latour of Maple Lake, Shane (Karina) Jurgens of Maple Lake, Mindy (Brad) Latour of Buffalo, and Jacci (Mike) Grant of Maple Lake; grandchildren: Heather (Matt), Ashley (Mitch), Megan (Paul), Mitchell (Marissa), Deanna, Kristin, Matthew, Chantal, Tasha, Aaden, Anna, Millie, Bri, Taylor, Tristan, Spencer, Sawyer, Brittany, Brandon, Austin, Devin, Kora, Katelyn, Gabriel, Emily, Abigail, Cooper, Bentley, Braelyn, Jordyn (Derek), Indy, and Hazyl; great-grandchildren: Mason, Ryder, Parker, Avery, Kinsley, Emmett, Evelyn, Barrett, Brianna, Maevyn, Grayson, and Jed; siblings: Carol (George) Paur of Bird Island, Eileen Hurd of Hector; in-laws: Lee (Joni) Demarais of Chatham Township, Charlotte (Loren) Zimmerman of Howard Lake; many nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Wilfred and Erna Fenske; father-in-law, Archie Demarais; mother-in-law, Doris Demarais; siblings: Loren Fenske, Duane Fenske, and Eunice Groehler; brothers-in-law: Elroy Groehler, Tom Hurd, Leonard Demarais, and Archie Demarais Jr; sister-in-law, Carol Demarais, and nieces and nephews.
The obituary, guestbook, and video tribute are online at www.dingmannfuneral.com.