Marilyn Schimmel

Marilyn Schimmel, age 86, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at a local hospital.  Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025, at Lutheran Church of our Redeemer in Watertown. Pastor Dan Overbo will officiate. Music will be provided by A.J. Sherrill as pianist with Darian Givens as soloist.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Marilyn’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Active pallbearers will be: Jim Hemmer, Nick Schimmel, Tyler Schimmel, Trever Schimmel, Garett Schimmel, Eric Schimmel, Adam Olson and Mike Entner.

Marilyn (Westby) Schimmel was born Nov 5,1938 near Butler, SD to Justus and Olive (Mathre) Westby. At the age of 6 years old the family moved to a farm west of Lily, SD were she attended Sunnyside Elementary School and Webster High School. Marilyn met Harold Schimmel while in high school and they married on October 29,1955 in the Butler Lutheran Church. 

The couple farmed in the Butler/Lily, SD area and in 1968 they bought a farm near Webster, SD where they farmed for 5 years and Marilyn worked at Bethdea Nursing Home as a Nurse’s Aide. Marilyn and Harold sold the farm in 1973 and moved to Watertown where she worked at St. Ann’s Hospital and attended Lake Area Technical Institute where she became an LPN. Marilyn continued her healthcare work at Jenkins Nursing Home for an additional 16 years.  After leaving Jenkins, she enjoyed babysitting for 8 years.  While the kids were young, she was a 4H leader for many years and taught Bible school.

Marilyn loved square dancing, making quilts, crocheting and painting. She also loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Marilyn is survived by her five children: Linette Hemmer of Rapid City, Douglas (Holly) Schimmel of Watertown, Bruce (Maurene) Schimmel of Ankeny, IA, Ronald (Peggy) Schimmel of Watertown and Lori (Steven) Mills of Watertown; 14 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; one sister, Shirley Torguson of Aberdeen; two brothers, Darrell Westby of Mechanicsburg, PA and Dale (Dee) Westby of St Charles, MO.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one sister, one sister-in-law, one son-in-law and one grandson.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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