Marilla J. Fuge

Marilla Josephine Eggler Fuge was born on August 29, 1911, in Dundee, Illinois, the only daughter of Ellen and August Eggler, a jeweler in Dundee. She and her two brothers, Aloysius and Charles, grew up in Dundee and spent summers at their home on Crystal Lake.
Marilla graduated from Dundee Community High School in 1929 where she enjoyed athletics, theater, and declamation. In 1933 she graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison with a degree in Physical Therapy. Marilla spent the year 1934 as a field worker for the Crippled Childrens division of the State Department of Education. She continued to work as a physical therapist in orthopedic schools, the Curative Workshop in Milwaukee, and the Fort Atkinson Hospital.
In 1944, Marilla married Karl Fuge and lived in West Allis, Wis. where their son, Bill, was born. In 1946, the Fuges moved to Ft. Atkinson, where Karl worked as a civil engineer with Jamesway Company. After living with the Arthur (Art) Waterman family a year, the Fuges moved to the hilltop home they built north of town. Their daughter, Ellen, was born in 1948. The Fuges with a several friends erected a rope tow at the hill and established the North Hill Ski Club that thrived nearly twenty years.
In 1952, Karl and Art Waterman established an architectural and engineering firm known as Waterman, Fuge & Associates, Inc and later as Kettle Moraine Associates. Marilla worked as secretary-treasurer for this corporation until it was dissolved in 1970.
In 1983, Marilla embarked on a 20-year collaboration with the Hoard Historical Society and, Dwight Foster Public Library, researching the genealogy and life of Black Hawk Island poet, Lorrine Neidecker. Marilla once remarked that these were some of the most satisfying years of her life. Her involvement with the community included volunteering with Rainbow Hospice, The Nature Conservancy at LuLu Lake preserve, and serving on the Jefferson County Human Services Board. Marillas character was one of teacher and care giver, sharing her interest and love of birds and wild flowers with her many friends and relatives.
Marilla was a life-long member of The Book Club, a group of 12 friends who met faithfully 10 months of the year until 2006. She was also a charter member of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church. She enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing and bicycling with a group of dear friends. Her travels took her to Sweden and Europe to visit relatives, friends, and ski and chaperone UW Whitewater students in Russia. Marilla participated in Elder Hostile tours to Alaska more than once and down the Grand Canyon in a raft. She joined friends to explore Baja California, and to ski in Aspen, Wisconsin and Michigan. She traveled with her son and his wife, and camped and paddled with her daughter in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Marilla passed away on Monday, March 7, 2011 at Alden Estates of Countryside in Jefferson. She is survived by her son Bill (Barb) Fuge of Canandaiqua, NY, daughter Ellen Fuge of Mahtomedi, MN, nephews Jim (Barb) Eggler, Madison, WI, and Steve (Lynn) Eggler, IL, sisters-in-law Helen and June Fuge, many nieces and nephews in the Fuge family and a wealth of close friends.
Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Fort Atkinson.
Inurnment will be at West Dundee Cemetery, W. Dundee, IL, in the Eggler family plot at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church, Dwight Foster Public Library, Rainbow Hospice or to the Fort Atkinson Historical Society.
The Dunlap Memorial Home is assisting the family.
www.dunlapmemorialhome.com

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