Marlene Kassel

Marlene Lucille (Tamke) Kassel, age 83, of Buffalo City, WI, passed away on Friday, February 12, 2021, at her home.

She was born May 25, 1937, to Otto and Marion (Heuer) Tamke, on the Heuer homestead farm in the Town of Belvidere, Wl.

In 1948, the family moved to Milwaukee, WI, where she lived for 47 years. She graduated from West Allis Central High School in 1955. She married Donald Buxrude, and they later divorced. In 1964, she married James Kassel, and he preceded her in death in 2011.

In 1995, Marlene retired from Briggs and Stratton in Milwaukee, at which time she and Jim retired to Buffalo City, Wl. She stayed active by serving on the Buffalo City Council for two  terms, and she was a dedicated volunteer in many capacities including: Ye Old Schoolhouse Shoppe, Buffalo County Driver, C-FC Elementary School, St. Martin’s  Elementary School Library, and the Alma Nutrition Site. Other pastimes Marlene enjoyed were embroidery and reading.  She was a member of St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winona.

Her passion was doing anything for her wonderful, caring family, from babysitting to baking, especially cookies. She looked forward to family gatherings and the Packer games.

Survivors include her six children: Ramona (Ken) Shaw, Donald (Dawn) Buxrude, Jane (Jeff) Dolata, Gary (Mary Jo), Dale (Ellen), Brian (Laura); grandchildren: Robert (Laura) Kreiser, Leslie (William) Bojar, Matthew Buxrude, Samantha (Alex) Ogden, Katie (Jon) Mickelson, Elizabeth (Aaron Rusch) Schultz, Sara, Ryan (Megan Erickson), Drew, Colleen, and Chloe; great-grandchildren: Kendall and Kapler Bojar; her sister: Phyllis (Dick) Weiss; her beloved friend: Milan “Shorty” Mueller; as well as many friends and extended relatives.  She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and parents-in-law.

The family wishes to thank Winona Health Hospice Services, with a special thanks to  Laura, Jen, Michelle and Heather, for their care and compassion.

Visitation will be held from 2 PM until the funeral service at 4 PM on Saturday, February 27, 2021, at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, 376 East Sarnia St. in Winona.  The Reverend William C. Meilner will officiate.  Those attending will be required to wear a mask and to follow social distancing guidelines.  Marlene will be laid to rest at the Arlington Park Cemetery in Milwaukee, at a later date.

Please visit www.watkowski-mulyck.com for online condolences, Marlene’s video tribute, and when available, a video stream of the funeral service.