• Visitation, Sunday March 12, 2023 at RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, 12400 W. Coldspring Rd. from 1:30pm-3pm with a Funeral Service at 3pm.

Barbara Lynn Marlin

Born Barbara Lynn Marlin on April 14th, 1947 in Bethesda, MD, on Bethesda Naval Base to parents George and Mike Marlin.  She was the daughter of a career Marine and lived all over the country, including Hawaii and California. She was the oldest of four children, two sisters (Diane and Anita) and one brother (David). She attended Morehead University in MN until she married Marvin Werner (m. 1969-1977) and moved to Spain where he was stationed in the Air Force. There they had their first child, Jaime in 1971. After returning to the States, they had Jake in 1973 in Wauwatosa, WI, and Josh in 1976 in Milwaukee, WI. Soon after Josh was born they moved to Sioux Falls, SD. She and Marvin divorced in 1977 and Barbara and the kids moved back to Milwaukee where her parents and family lived.

When Barbara was growing up, she loved reading and always had her nose in a book. When thinking of going to college, she debated going to art school or following a teaching career. Ultimately her love of books and reading led her to choose teaching. She put herself back through school and graduated Summa Cum Laude from UW-Milwaukee. She did this being a single mom of three children under the age of seven. Her first job as a teacher was at Greenfield Middle School, but the majority of her career she was an English teacher at Greenfield High School. She loved British Literature, especially novels by Charles Dickens. Teaching brought her immense joy, working not only with colleagues but working towards a future for her students. Barbara also loved church and feeling a sense of community within the congregation. She attended Pentecost Lutheran Church on Burleigh Street, joined the choir and made long lasting friendships there. Later she became a member of  Resurrection Lutheran Church in New Berlin where she also sang in the choir and made relationships that would last a lifetime.

One of her favorite holidays was Halloween. When her children were growing up she would turn their house into a haunted house and have Halloween parties. She would dress to the 9s like a wicked witch and tell the “Body Parts” spooky story and scare all the neighborhood kids. She especially enjoyed seeing the creative costumes that came to her doorstep every year. She also loved Christmas, everything about it. From the decorations and lights, to the stories and music. But her favorite thing was watching her kids’ faces on Christmas morning and the sheer joy and wonderment as they saw what was waiting for them under the tree. Not only did her traditions leave long lasting imprints on her children, but her grandchildren as well.

One of Barbara’s proudest moments was when she became a grandmother. She was referred to as Nana by her three granddaughters, Georgia (22 years old), Ella (13 years old), and Marlina (8 years old). She enjoyed watching her granddaughters’ accomplishments and talents, whether it was Ella and Marlina’s dancing or Georgia playing the Cello in the Orchestra or speaking French. She was in awe of their natural curiosity about the world around them. She respected and truly enjoyed sarcastic wit and humor, especially from her granddaughters. Accompanying her children and granddaughters, Barbrara found a special connection with Georgia’s dog Dakota and eventually claimed her as her own. With lots of love, and lots of treats, Dakota succumbed and Barbara won her over.

Barbara has had to fight many battles during her life, diabetes, heart disease, renal failure, and multiple fractures over the past few years. She finally succumbed to heart disease March 5th, 2023 surrounded by her children and loved ones. She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Mike Marlin. She is survived by her children, Jaime Werner, Jake Werner (Krista), Josh Werner (Lisa); her siblings, Diane Sikorski (Roger), Anita Marlin, David Marlin (Heidi); her granddaughters, Georgia, Ella, Marlina; her nephews and niece; and many beloved cousins in CO, MI, and MN. She will always be in the hearts of those she touched and will be greatly missed. Her sarcasm and witty sense of humor lives within her children and grandchildren, carrying her throughout their lives.

Visitation, Sunday March 12, 2023 at RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, 12400 W. Coldspring Rd. from 1:30pm-3pm with a Funeral Service at 3pm.