Died August 11, 2024
Marilyn Kay Sichler (née Gerred), 87, of Leland, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, August 11, 2024.
Marilyn was born on March 20, 1937 in Grand Rapids, the only child of Merle and Janice (House) Gerred. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1958 with her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. On June 22 of the same year, she began her 61-year marriage with Edward (Ted) H. Sichler III in her hometown, Lansing.
Marilyn was a loving wife and mother to her three children. She and Ted raised Lisa, Brian, and Pam in Ann Arbor, spending summers at the family cottage in Leland. After Ted’s retirement, they spent winters in Sarasota and summers in Leland, where they often hosted their children and grandchildren. In their later years, Marilyn and Ted lived in Leland year round.
During her life, Marilyn enjoyed many hobbies such as needlework, duplicate bridge, collecting majolica, playing golf, and especially traveling. Marilyn had visited all 50 states. She and Ted traveled all over the world, including trips to Europe, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Central and South America, Asia, and Oceania.
She was an active member of several groups including the Ann Arbor Women’s City Club, the Leland Country Club, the Leland Yacht Club, and the educational organizations PEO and AAUW. For many years, Marilyn directed Tuesday evening duplicate bridge at the Leland Country Club. She was also a volunteer at the Leland Library for several years.
Marilyn was a lover of music and the arts all her life. She greatly enjoyed attending musical theater and symphony orchestra performances in Ann Arbor, and later Sarasota and Interlochen. She and Ted were also lifelong University of Michigan sports fans and held season tickets for football and basketball for decades.
Marilyn is survived by her daughters, Lisa Sichler of West Bloomfield and Pam (Newell) Kraik of Toronto; grandchildren, Margaret Muir, Andrew and Daniel Kraik; sister-in-law Alisann (Charles) Kepler, and her family.
She was preceded in death by her son Brian Sichler in 2005, and by her husband Ted Sichler in 2021.
Her family offers their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate caregivers of Comfort Keepers of Traverse City, with special thanks to Nancy Carmean; Effie’s Place of Leland; and Heartland Hospice. A public graveside service will be held on Friday, August 16 at 3:30 p.m. at Beechwood Cemetery, Leland.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marilyn’s memory to Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), www.breakthrought1d. org, or to Effie’s of Leland, www.effiesplace. org.
Please share condolences with the family at www.martinson.info Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.
