Marion Helen Perkins

Marion Helen (Hemmrich) Perkins, born November 11, 1924, in Marathon, WI, passed away on September 2, 2026, at Pine Crest Nursing Home, surrounded by her family.

Marion grew up in Knox Mills, WI, as the second youngest of five. She, her three sisters and her brother all attended a one room school house. Marion had her first job as a janitor for the school when she was in 8th grade. As an adult, Marion wrote a story about this experience which was published in the Our Wisconsin magazine. Marion’s family was very close. They loved singing together. When she was little, her father told her the Armistice Day parade was for her birthday. Her sister Ruth was her lifelong best friend, and they had many adventures together until Ruth passed away in 2022.

Marion always valued education, but Knox Mills only had a grade school. Marion and her sisters were so determined to go to high school that they attended high school in Prentice where they had to board with other families during the week and only go home on weekends.

After high school, Marion graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. One of the most fateful decisions of her life was accepting a teaching job in Phillips, WI. There, in August of 1950, she met a young woodworking teacher named Art Perkins. By October, they were engaged, and they married on December 30, 1950. They quickly began their family and became parents to Greg in November, 1951; Jean in May, 1955; and Kate in July, 1956. Another child, William, died in infancy.

The family moved to Merrill in 1962 when Art got a job teaching Industrial Arts at Merrill Senior High School. Art taught at Merrill High for several years. During this time, Marion kept house and taught future teachers at the Lincoln County Normal School, a two-year teachers college in Merrill. This was her favorite job of all time. The students shared her love of teaching and appreciated her advice on how to be a successful teacher. She also taught for a few years at St Anne’s Catholic School in Rothschild, WI. Marion and Art were very active in their parish, St Francis Xavier. The children attended St Francis Grade School, and in later years, Marion was an active member of the Catholic Deanery’s Council of Catholic Women.

In 1963, Art and Marion bought a farm north of Merrill. In the mid 1960’s, they began dairy farming. Marion loved living in the country. She loved watching the leaves change on the large maple trees in their yard. She enjoyed harvesting and canning the food from her garden and the apple trees in her yard. She and Art farmed for many years. For someone who didn’t learn to drive a car until she was 40, learning to drive a tractor and to rake hay were great accomplishments!

Marion excelled at baking. She made the best apple pies, using apples from her own trees, as well as oatmeal cookies, cinnamon buns, Kringle and fruit cake. Marion’s favorite hobby was always reading, and one of her friends at her 100th birthday party recalled the time Marion decided to limit her reading to four books a week so she could get her chores done. Marion’s favorite holiday was Christmas. She loved decorating her home and putting up her Christmas tree, which was cut on her own property.

In their post farming years, Marion was able to travel both with Art and with her sisters. Art was a World War II veteran, and she and Art enjoyed a trip to Washington DC with Honor Flight to see the Veteran’s Memorials. They also visited Mackinac Island. They enjoyed visiting their children as well as Art’s family, who lived in Arizona and Colorado. Marion also took a sightseeing trip to Philadelphia and New York with her sister Adeline and traveled to San Antonio for a conference of Catholic Women.

After Art died in 2010, Marion built a brand-new house on the farm property. She lived there by herself until March, 2024, when she moved into Pine Crest. At Pine Crest, Marion enjoyed physical and occupational therapy and many activities including bingo, Mass and the musical activities. Marion was glad to be able to stay in Merrill because it made it easy for her friends and family to visit her.

There are many things in Marion’s life that she accomplished and was proud of, but she considered raising her family and keeping them healthy as her best accomplishments. Close behind is how proficient she became at farming with her husband Art. She knew nothing of farming when they began, but she learned to drive a tractor, do fieldwork with the tractor, rake hay, milk cows and raise calves.

Marion lived to be nearly 102. Her advice on getting older was to accept the fact that you’re going to get older and do the best you can with what you have. These wise words guided Marion throughout her life.

Marion is survived by daughters Jean Perkins of Merrill and Kate (Kent Archie) Perkins of Warrenville, IL; granddaughters Rachel and Madelaine Archie and sister-in-law Ginger Detlefsen, as well as many nieces, nephews and good friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Perkins; sons Gregory and William; parents Ben and Dena (Krause) Hemmrich; siblings Ruth (John) Benson; Dorothy (Clarence) Wilund; Adeline (William) Peterson and Frederick (Ginger) Hemmrich.

Visitation will be held from 4 until 7 pm., Monday, September 7th, at Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation, 301 Eagle Dr., Merrill, WI. The funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 am. on Tuesday, September 8th, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Merrill. Burial will take place in St Francis Catholic Cemetery, Merrill, following the services.

Memorial donations may be made in Marion’s name to the St Francis Xavier Catholic School Scholarship Fund or to your local food pantry.

Taylor-Stine-Waid Funeral & Cremation is assisting the family. Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinewaid.com