Marlis A. Urbanek

Marlis Urbanek, dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother passed away at the age of 77 on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at Gunderson Health System in LaCrosse.  She was surrounded by her loving children and family. She was born to Raymond Otto and Esther Hannah (Krause) Schlicht on Oct. 13, 1946, in LaCrosse.

As a child, she attended Mt. Calvary School in LaCrosse, and later graduated from Luther High School in Onalaska.  She loved playing with her friends and her brother Gary, especially at Trane Park, across the street from her home.

Marlis was a dedicated house wife and homemaker and supported her husband Willy on the family farm in Chaseburg, while also raising five children.  Later in life she was employed at Degen Berglund for 30+ years, where she was the gift and Hallmark manager, and made many precious and dear friends.  She also worked for the LaCrosse Loggers baseball association along-side her husband.

She loved dancing and eventually met her lifelong sweetheart at the Concordia Ballroom in LaCrosse.  He took her home one night after a dance and probably fell in love with her sweetness and friendly personality, and of course her good looks.  She later married William Edward Urbanek Jr. at St. Mary’s Church in Coon Valley, on Aug. 29, 1964.

Marlis was known by everyone for her wonderful traits of kindness, patience, forgiveness, service, and dedication.  She had a very strong and dedicated faith in God and her Savior, Jesus Christ, and she served as a CCD teacher for many years and in other service opportunities.  She loved to sew, work with flowers and plants, and kept dozens of photo albums and family history information of her family.  She enjoyed babysitting for family and friends, going to local theatre shows with her friends, and serving others.

Her most wonderful quality though was her love for her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She loved attending their school and sporting events, talking to them on the phone and hearing of their accomplishments, receiving colored pictures and letters in the mail, and hearing their little voices saying “I love you grandma!”  She never wanted to miss a thing of theirs and those precious little ones brought her the most joy at the end of her earthly life here.

She was survived by her husband William Edward Urbanek and her five children, Greg Urbanek, Roger Urbanek, Sheila (Dan) Strasser, Jason (Laura) Urbanek, and Erin (Eric) Curti.  She had 14 wonderful grandchildren, and 16 precious great-grandchildren.  She also was survived by her sister in-law Ellen Schlicht and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and brother and sister in-laws.

She was preceded in death by her mother Esther Hannah Hunder and her father Raymond Otto Schlicht, as well as her mother’s 2nd husband John O. Hunder.  She was also preceded by her dear brother Gary Ray Schlicht.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday November 9, 2023 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Coon Valley. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until service time. Rev. Joe Richards will officiate with burial in the St. Mary's Cemetery. Memorials may be given to St. Mary's Catholic Church. Condolences may be given at selandsfuneralhome.com.