Marvel M. Rowley, 91, of Fort Atkinson, died on June 19, 2023, at the Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek.
Marvel was born on July 8, 1931, in Rhinelander, WI, the daughter of Elmer and Hazel (Cole) Miles. She graduated from Rhinelander High School in 1949 and then went to nursing school at St. Charles Hospital School of Nursing in Aurora, Illinois, graduating September 6, 1952. She was a nurse in Chicago prior to her marriage. On February 10, 1962, she married Richard (Dick) Rowley in Whitewater, WI and they raised their three children: Ric, Sue, and Carol on Dick’s family farm in Lima Township. In 1977 they moved to Fort Atkinson and Marvel returned to working as an RN at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital until she retired in 1995.
Dick and Marvel were founding members of the Community of Christ the Servant Church in Whitewater, WI. The first service was held by the pond on their farm.
After Dick’s death in 1999, Marvel traveled the world with her dear friend Polly Schull. The only continent that they did not visit was Antarctica. She surprised her family when she gave tandem skydiving a “whirl” while in her seventies.
Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her five grandchildren and, recently, her great-granddaughter Dorothy Marvel. She made each one a special quilt and even created quilts for their future children.
She rarely missed a school concert or sporting event. She also volunteered at the Jefferson County Humane Society and Dwight Foster Library in Fort Atkinson.
Marvel is survived by her children, Ric (Kelli) Rowley and Sue (Mark) Johnson. Five grandchildren Jillian (Zack Pick) Rowley, Ian (Caroline) Rowley, Devon Rowley, Alex (fiancé Erika Spence) Johnson, and Faith Johnson; and great-granddaughter Dorothy Marvel Rowley-Pick.
She is further survived by her dear nephews Ken (Pam) Simes and Keith (Karalyn) Simes, along with their families. She will be missed by her dear friends and neighbors Becky and Dwayne Johnson and Kathi and Carl Baio.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dick Rowley, daughter Carol Jean Rowley, sisters Elva Marie Miles and Mardella (Dale) Simes, and her beloved dog Tasha.
A celebration of Marvel’s life will be held on her birthday, Saturday, July 8th, 2023, from 11 a,m, to 2 p.m. at the Fort Atkinson Club, 211 S Water St E, Fort Atkinson, WI. There will be a Final Call to Duty Tribute by the Wisconsin Nurses Honor Guard at 1 p.m. followed by remarks from Pastor Mike Obinger of Community of Christ the Servant Church.
In lieu of flowers, Marvel’s family has requested that memorials be directed to the Jefferson County Humane Society or Rainbow Hospice.
The family would like to thank the staff at Milton Senior Living and Rainbow Hospice for the kind and compassionate care given to Marvel in her final months of life. Online condolences may be made at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com
