Marie DeGayner

"Marie DeGayner" KINGSFORD - Marie M. DeGayner, died Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005, at Freeman's Nursing and Rehabilitation Community four days after celebrating her 95th birthday with her family. Marie was born in Marathon County, Wis., on Aug. 5, 1910, to the late Otto and Sophie (Hernke) Seeger. Marie married Ralph DeGayner on Sept. 7, 1930, at Menominee. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1980. Ralph died the following year on July 31, 1981. Marie graduated from Edgar High School in Edgar, Wis. in 1928, then attended Oshkosh State Normal and began her teaching career at Waukesha in the school year of 1930-31. She then taught at Central School in Iron Mountain in 1931-1932. Taking time out to rear a family of six children - five boys, Eugene, Ralph, Felton, Clayton, and Alden and one girl, Hazel Dault, she didn't get back into teaching until 1950. In 1959, she received her bachelor of science degree and her master of the arts in 1962. She taught at Channing from 1950-1962. She taught at Champion for a year and at Republic from 1964-1968. Marie and her husband, Ralph, moved to Deming, N.M for his health and she became a teacher with the Deming Public School System in 1968. She was honored by the Masons as Teacher of the Year in 1975, the year she was forced to retire due to ill health. She then spent 131/2 years tutoring students at Smith School and helping them with reading problems. At Smith Elementary, she was a reading specialist the last four years of her time there. During the years before this, she taught the sixth grade. All those years of tutoring following her retirement were volunteer work without compensation. Marie returned to the area in 1991 to live at Evergreen Heights Apartments to be closer to her family. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Mrs. DeGayner is survived by her six children; a brother, Arnold Seeger of Minneapolis; a sister, Margaret Weinkauf of Wausau, Wis.; her 25 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; her parents, Sophie and Otto Seeger and her brother, George. Teaching was Marie's life. She lived to help children learn to read and it is estimated that she has helped many thousands of students to achieve a better and successful life. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Rev. Michael March will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Marie DeGayner online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Marie DeGayner

August 5, 1910 - August 9, 2005