Marilyn A. Knuth, 77 of De Pere, WI, passed away on March 7, 2026. She was born on February 14, 1949, to the late Norbert and Marie (Kempen) Jansen in Green Bay, WI. Marilyn met her husband Tom at a high school dance. After a whirlwind courtship, they married on July 26, 1969. Marilyn and Tom had three daughters, Heidi, Carrie, and Beth. Marilyn attended nursing school at Holy Family in Manitowoc and was a nurse at St. Vincent Hospital for over 40 years.

Marilyn and Tom didn’t argue, and she was easy to talk to. Any issue that came up, they were always able to compromise and figure it out. They are each other’s best friends.

Marilyn loved to quilt. She loved being outdoors and loved the water. Just being by the water was enough for her. Marilyn was a very helpful lady, and she was always ready to lend a helping hand, no matter what. She was very friendly as well, and she often made friends with the people at the restaurants they frequented.

She was a perfectionist with all her crafts and spent many hours creating her creations. She loved crafting homemade gifts for friends and family. She would craft little angels and ornaments, bringing them to her friends and people she met. Every year, Marilyn would make homemade ornaments for her entire family, usually about 70 ornaments every Christmas. She would also wrap mini candy bars and other little treats and stick them in with her creations. Marilyn loved spending time with her family and enjoyed supporting her children and grandchildren at all their events. She was also an excellent baker. Marilyn was well known around her friends and family for her perfect pies. She usually had Tom helping her in the kitchen as well, stirring pie filling or helping peel apples.

Marilyn is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Tom, as well as her daughters, Heidi (David) O’Toole, Carrie (David) Richard, Beth VanStraten (significant other Patrick Whitaker), grandchildren, Ashleigh Echols, Annabelle VanStraten (Devon Johnson), Rhianna O’Toole, Hayden VanStraten, Liam O’Toole, and great-grandchildren Cecilia and Ethan Torres. She is further survived by her siblings, Ron Jansen, Jeanne (John) Valentine, Jeff (Dee) Jansen, and sister Carol (Mark) White, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brothers Peter, Gary, and Dave.

Friends may call at Ryan Funeral Home, 305 N. Tenth Street, De Pere, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Monday, March 16, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.