Marilyn J. Coehrs

Marilyn Jane Coehrs was born on March 12, 1933, in Dowling, Ohio to Ruth (Lahey) and Edwin Faneuff. She passed away on April 14, 2023, at the age of 90. She was the oldest of six siblings and close to her three brothers and two sisters all her life.

Marilyn grew up in east Toledo and attended Sacred Heart Elementary School. She was a 1951 graduate of Central Catholic High School where she excelled in her English, creative writing, and poetry classes. From an early age, Marilyn loved to read and had a particular affinity for poetry. She was fond of quoting from the classic works of Dickinson, Browning, Frost, Poe, and Shakespeare. She wrote poems, stories, and songs all her life. Marilyn also enjoyed challenging crossword puzzles and word games. Her vast knowledge of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and sentence diagramming was legendary; as students, her children were fortunate to have free-in-house tutoring and proofreading.

When she was in her senior year of high school, Marilyn attended a dance at Navarre Park in Toledo where she met a handsome young man named Jim Coehrs. Soulmates from the start, they wed on July 7, 1951 at Sacred Heart Church and were happily married for 51 years until his passing in 2002. Their love for each other was present every day and a testament to what a true partnership in a marriage should be. Together they confidently and competently raised ten children with faith and solid values as their guide. Mom’s favorite quote, often conjured in the midst of the chaos, was “This too shall pass.” Our parents sacrificed time, energy, worldly goods, vacation, and creature comforts to provide twelve years of Catholic school education to all ten of their children, a bequest that cannot be overstated. They provided a warm, happy, safe home and created treasured memories with annual traditions and constant contact with extended family. Despite our home’s modest size, no one was a stranger; friends were always welcomed and respected. We were blessed beyond measure by our mother’s accepting nature.

Marilyn was an active and enthusiastic participant in the ministries at St. Thomas Aquinas Church where she was a member for 70 years. She served as a Eucharistic Minister, taught junior high religious classes, was editor of the parish newsletter, and a member of the pastoral council and liturgy committee. She was also active in the church retreats and Christ Renews His Parish. During this time, Marilyn wrote a song called There’s A Butterfly Waiting In You that became quite popular at retreats in her parish and many other parishes as well. St. Louis Helping Hands, an organization that provides food to those in need, was also grateful recipient of her volunteer hours. Marilyn lived her faith with unwavering certainty and an optimistic spirit that was admirable and inspiring to so many.

When her stay-at-home mother duties were fulfilled, Marilyn began working as an Auxiliary Services Program Clerk for the Toledo Board of Education and was assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas, Gesu, and Little Flower schools. She took great pride in her work and was able to put her superior secretarial and grammar skills to good use. The schools were sorry to see her retire after 22 years on the job. Marilyn and Jim loved to travel, especially to the Smoky Mountains.

Marilyn was a caring, generous, sweetly humorous soul who taught by example what it means to be a good human. She accepted all people as God’s creations and was never one to judge or shun anyone for their beliefs, culture, or way of life. She fully embraced loving her neighbor and treating others with respect, dignity, and kindness. The world was fortunate to have her influence and benevolence for so many years. She is now happily reunited for eternity with her husband, Jim, who was her best friend and the love of her life.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Jim; her daughter, Valerie Grosjean; son-in-law, Kevin Ricker; and her brothers, Ronald, Jack, and Richard. She leaves behind her sisters, Carole (Angelo) DeLuca and Marcia (Chuck) Bohnsack; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She is also survived by her children, Jim Coehrs of Oregon, Ohio, Sue (John) Hansen of Curtice, Ohio, Cheryl (Tony) Calvis of Scottsdale, Arizona, Kathy Ricker of Sylvania, Ohio, Gary (Karen) Coehrs of Oregon, Ohio, David (Patti) Coehrs of Oregon, Ohio, Tom (Karen) Coehrs of Toledo, Ohio, Julie (Tom) McNamee of Perrysburg, Ohio, Diane (Phil) Schober of Bowling Green, Ohio, son-in-law, Dennis (Jan) Grosjean of Oregon, Ohio, and former daughter-in-law and friend, Kathy Coehrs of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Surviving grandchildren are Melanie Grosjean, Tim (Angie) Grosjean, Amanda (Ben) Milliron, Tony (Hannah) Calvis, Rachel Calvis, Stacey (Nick) Sneider, Sean (Lisa Wolken) Kornos, Lisa (Lindsey) Trace, Danielle (Timothy) Kazee, Steven Flack (Eva), Tara Flack, Justin Reed, Kristie (Brett) Strittmatter, Mary (Bob) McNeill, Melissa (Nixx) Lambrix, Angela Rickman, Trey (Kinsy) McNamee, and Jason and Joshua Schober.

Great-grandchildren are Nolan, Logan, and Lily Grosjean, Ellie, Thomas, and James Calvis, Jonah, Noah, and Ezrah Trace, Jude, Clark, and Stella Kazee, Parker, Graham, AJ, and Thomas McNamee, Cameron and Evelyn McNamee, Catherine and Elise Strittmatter, Jenna and Michael Schober.

Visitation will take place at Walker Funeral Home, 3500 Navarre Avenue, Oregon, OH 43616 on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 729 White Street, Toledo, Ohio on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 11 a.m. with viewing beginning at 10 a.m. Interment immediately following at St. Rose Catholic Cemetery in Perrysburg, Ohio. A celebration luncheon will follow at the church.

We would like to thank Marilyn’s caregivers over the past few years who were truly Angels, Kathy Wachowiak, who graciously visited mom daily for over 3 years, Vanessa and Mildred mom’s regular caregivers from Senior Helpers who provided excellent in home care over the past few years. Also, Pat, Celina – caregivers from Senior Helpers and Connie who through her collaboration at Senior Helpers ensured mom received the Best Care. And a huge, loving thank you to our sisters, Julie and Kathy, for their years of knowledge, guidance, and decision making, sacrifices and extra loving care for Mom that enabled us to have her with us for as long as we did. A special thank you to Dr. Rebecca Marshall and her father who were mom’s physicians for many years. Memorial donations may be made to St. Louis Helping Hands or St. Thomas Aquinas Church.