MARION L. HEIDEN
Marion L. Heiden, age 88, of Elkhart Lake, Wis., passed away Friday afternoon, June 18, 2010, at Sheboygan Memorial Hospital.
She was born March 29, 1922 in Sheboygan, a daughter of the late Dr. Harry and Amanda (Vick) Heiden. Marion attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., and graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta social sorority and Zeta Phi Eta speech sorority.
Upon completing college, Marion joined radio station WHBL, where she hosted a daily classical music program and a children’s story program, becoming known as the WHBL Story Lady. During this time she also became widely known for her dramatic book reviews, appearing before many local and state clubs and organizations.
Leaving the field of radio, Miss Heiden began another career in library work, becoming the children’s librarian at the Oconomowoc Public Library for a number of years.
Retiring from her position in Oconomowoc, Marion became a resident of Elkhart Lake, where she again entered the library field as the director of the Elkhart Lake Public Library for 14 years.
Marion was a member of Community United Church of Christ in Elkhart Lake. Following her career at the library, she was a docent at the Wade House and also at the Plymouth Arts Center.
During the years Marion traveled extensively in the United States and abroad.
She is survived by one sister, Harriet (Peter) Kirchhoff of Brookfield, Wis.; two nephews, Jeffrey Kirchhoff of Northfield, N.H., and Bruce (Andrea) Kirchhoff of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and their two children, Drew and Tyler, all of whom were very dear to Marion.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, at the Wittkopp-Schneider Funeral Home in Plymouth. The Rev. Michael Safford-Kennedy will officiate. Burial will be in the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Wittkopp-Schneider Funeral Home from 1 p.m. Tuesday until the hour of service. Memorial funds will be established in Marion’s name for the Elkhart Lake Historical Society and Elkhart Lake Public Library.
