Beloved Chicago celebrity, Marshall Brodien (84) of Geneva, passed away peacefully early morning on March 8, 2019. Marshall may be best known for creating the Marshall Brodien Magic sets and TV magic cards with his famous tagline, “Magic is easy, once you know the Secret”. He’s also fondly remembered as the magical, wacky character Wizzo on Chicago’s Bozo Show for 26 years.
Marshall, aka Wizzo, would wave his stone of Zanzibar and say the magic words, “Do-dee-do-dee-do”. Marshall’s rich life began in Chicago with his loving mother, Mildred, Father Arthur, and brother, Charles. At the age of eight, a female magician entertained at his school.
He soon became hooked and put on his own shows for family and friends. He later became a side-show barker at Riverview Park. He was drafted into the army in 1957 and commissioned to the Special Services Entertainment Division at Fort Carson, Colorado.
He performed more than 700 shows at hospitals, officer clubs, and private parties over his two years in the military. Marshall continued entertaining by performing magic and stage hypnosis at lounges, clubs, and county fairs as well working as a trade show spokesperson for corporations such as Owens-Corning Fiberglass, Bethlehem Steel, Reynolds Aluminum, and the American Gas Association. Marshall’s charisma and gentle spirit drew people to him from all walks of life.
Fans, neighbors, and long and short time acquaintances called him friend, because that is how he treated everyone he met. He wouldn’t hesitate to stop and talk or offer a tour through his home museum. Well-mannered and thoughtful, caregivers testified to his gratitude for their assistance until the very end.
Marshall showed symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease disruptive to daily life since 2004. He was cared for at home by his wife, Mary Doyle Brodien, for ten years, and then by Arden Courts of Geneva for nearly five more. Marshall and Mary met when Mary wrote a feature article about Marshall for the Chicago Tribune in 1994.
The title of the article was “Vanishing Act”. Marshall and Mary were married the following year. In retrospect, Mary says that title has been part of their loving, happy marital experience as sadly, Marshall, gradually and continuously vanished from the effects of Alzheimer’s over the last 15 years.
In addition to his wife, Mary, Marshall is survived by his children: Anita (Michael) Brazeau, Marshall (Lisa) Brodien, and John (Dimitra) Brodien as well as step-children: Lisa Kluge, Erin (Steven) Lukasiewicz, and Joseph Cannella. Marshall also was blessed with nine grandchildren: Anna (Matthew) Darnall, Michael Brazeau, Matthew Brazeau, Angela Torrey, Olivia Torrey, Molly Shavey, John Brodien, Samantha Brodien, and Ziva Brodien, four step-grandchildren: Daniel Kluge, Tyler Lukasiewicz, Isabella Lukasiewicz, and Nathan Kluge, and one great-grandchild: Jack Darnall, and one more on the way. He also leaves his sister-in-law, Pauline Brodien.
Marshall was preceded in death by his daughter, Christine Brodien, who passed away in 2016, and his brother, Charles Brodien. The family would like to thank the staff at Arden Courts of Geneva and Heartland Hospice staff who blessed him through the end. Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 1891 Kaneville Road, Geneva from 10:00 am until the time of the Funeral Mass at 1:00 pm with Father Jonathan Bakkelund Celebrant.
Donations can be made in his name to Arden Courts of Geneva (2388 Bricher Road, Geneva, IL 60134), Heartland Hospice (1010 Executive Drive, Suite 200, Westmont, IL 60559), or the Alzheimer’s Association (225 Michigan Ave, Fl 17, Chicago, IL 60601). Arrangements handled by Malone Funeral Home in Geneva. For information 630-232-8233 or www.
malonefh.com.
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