Marilyn Elizabeth DeBaker

Marilyn E. DeBaker, 97, Green Bay, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Carreta Senior Living in Bellevue on Saturday, July 11, 2026. She was born February 28, 1929, in New Franken, WI to Anton and Frances (Van Lannen) Peters.

Marilyn attended New Franken grade school and graduated from St Joseph Academy. On Easter Sunday 1946, Marilyn at the age of 17, went to a dance with several of her friends at the Bluestone Dance Hall in Bellevue where Romy Gosz was playing polkas for the dancing crowd. She was approached by a young man for a dance which she agreed. He was Marvin DeBaker, a Navy Veteran of WWII and she described him as an exuberant dancer. He had the right moves as they married three years later at St Kilian's parish on May 14, 1949. They would go on to raise five children and live to celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary.

Marvin got called back to duty in August 1950 for the Korean War and Marilyn spent time living in San Diego nurturing their growing family during his deployment.

Marilyn was raised on a dairy farm and showed many of the qualities of a hard-working farm girl, strong and resilient traits that would serve her well in life. She was the rock and worked hard to help support their growing family in those early challenging times. She worked part-time at Charlies Supper Club, The Spot, and Oneida Golf and Riding Club as a waitress and used her sewing skills to make her own wedding dress and clothes for her children.

She enjoyed life, was an avid equestrian, raising horses, and riding with family and friends. Sometime as far away as Ireland. She was a very good athlete excelling at baseball, volleyball, bowling, and enjoyed crocheting, sewing, gardening, making maple syrup, and making chicken booyah over an open fire. She was an accomplished artist working mainly in watercolors but other methods as well, and crafts. She and Marvin enjoyed traveling both domestically and internationally, sailing, camping, whitewater canoeing, square dancing, golf, and playing bridge together with friends. She was a huge Packer fan and held season tickets.

Marilyn and Marvin were very active members and supporters of St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard for over 70 years. Strong believers in their Roman Catholic faith they were active in many of the parish's committees, clubs and supporting organizations and sent all their children to the parish grade school.

She is survived by her children, Daniel (Barbara) DeBaker of Racine WI, Barbara (Timothy) Albers of Casco WI, Kathryn Hardin of Canton GA, Karen Treble of Colorado Springs CO and Annette (Brian) Burt of Cato WI: along with nine grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin DeBaker; her parents, Anton and Frances Peters; stepmother, Dorothy Peters; her brother, Robert (Joan) Peters; her sisters, Delores Delvaux, Irene Wright/Willmas/(Larry) Solway; and stepsister, Doris Schneider.

Friends and family will gather at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2597 Glendale Ave., (Due to road construction on Glendale Ave, please use the Cardinal Rd entrance) from 11:30am to 1pm on Friday, July 17; Mass to follow at 1pm. Entombment will be at Allouez Chapel Mausoleum. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be provided to St. John the Baptist Parish.

The family extends special thanks and appreciation to the staff of Caretta Senior Living and Heartland Hospice for the comfort and care they gave Marilyn.