Marjorie Lou “Marj” Fanzen Plank, the eldest child of William M. and Lillian M. (Elliston) Franzen Sr. Aden, was born October 22, 1932, north of Gothenburg, NE and passed away January 8, 2019 in North Platte, NE at the age of 86. She was baptized November 27, 1932 by Pastor Herman Diekhoff and confirmed June 23, 1946, by Pastor Carl Kemper, at Zion Lutheran Church of Gothenburg. She attended schools in Imperial, Champion and District 88 near Gothenburg, graduating from Gothenburg High School in 1951.
On November 18, 1951, she married Robert “Bob” Plank, at Zion Lutheran Church in Gothenburg. This union was blessed with five beautiful daughters. They had the joy of celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in 2011, with family and friends.
Marj was a member of Zion, being the first woman ever elected to serve on the church council. She taught Sunday School, confirmation and Bible school, alter guild, committees and boards, and women of the church president several times. She was junior choir director and sang in the choir and small groups.
She helped with 4-H from hauling horses and calves, 4-H demo talks, baking, 4-H kitchen, singing etc. She worked in the office at Gothenburg Sale Barn, Howell and Century Lumber Center, the Sod House Museum, Farmer’s Wife and Frito-Lay. She also served from many years on the Dawson County election board.
She is survived by her four daughters: Kendra (Hal) Fecht of Gothenburg, NE, Kay (Craig) Streeter of Gothenburg, NE, Kimberly (Jeffrey) Aurich of North Platte, Kelli (Stephen) Schwaller, Jr. of Lincoln; son-in-law Randy Ricley; six granddaughters and six grandsons: Jori (Charles) Jones, Zachariah (Trenda) Fecht, Jacob (Julie) Fecht, Brooke (Kurt) Stevens, Blayre (Tyic) Miller, Blake (Mary) Streeter, Kayla Aurich) Tucker(Ashley) Aurich, Casey (Josh) Handlin, Logan (Stephanie) Ricley, Paige Schwaller, Jeffrey Schwaller; 23 great grandchildren Taylor, Sydney, Hunter and Archer Jones, Trey and Teegan Stevens, Avery, Addison and Alyvia Streeter, Audree and Arie Miller, Miles and Maggie Streeter; her sister Marilyn (Don) Brockman of Burmuda Dunes, CA, sister-in-law Dianne Franzen of Lexington; along with many other relatives and friends. Marj was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Lillian; her step-father Jurgen Aden; her husband Bob; daughter Karla Ricley, granddaughter Bailey Kay Streeter, brothers Bill and Kent, step-brother Gene Aden and step-sisters Darlene Arnall and Shirley Hite. Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Sunday, January 13, 2019, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
with the family present from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Monday, January 14, 2019 at 10:30 am with Pastor Carol Mapa officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Gothenburg, Nebraska.
Memorials may be given to the Zion Lutheran Church, 77191 HWY 47, Gothenburg, NE 69138.
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