Marian L. Walker, age 87, of Knoxville, Illinois passed away at 2:12 a.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family.
She was born on May 4, 1936 at Cottage Hospital in Galesburg, Illinois the daughter of Maurice and Rose (Ekstrom) Carlson. She attended and graduated from Galesburg High School in the class of 1954. She married James L. Walker on April 28, 1957 at the First Lutheran Church in Galesburg, Illinois, he preceded her in death on July 21, 2020.
Surviving are her four sons: Kenneth (Debbie) Walker of Gilson, Illinois, Wayne (Nedra) Walker of Knoxville, Illinois, Gary (Kathy) Walker of Knoxville, Illinois, and David Walker of Gilson, Illinois; 10 grandchildren: Chris (Beth) Walker, Jacalyn and Kaitlyn Walker, Becky (Caleb) Bennett, Tyler (Brittany) Walker, Brett (Taylor) Walker, Lukas Walker and Jadyn Walker; four step grandchildren: Amanda (Jeremy) Ray, Sarah Gossage, Daniel Beauchamp, and Myra (Austin) Cooper; four great-grandchildren: Hank, Jake, Nolan, Brooklyn; six step-great grandchildren: Emma, Jaxson, Luella, Bryar, Emersyn, and Cole; one brother, Richard (Maureen) Carlson of Knoxville, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a daughter-in-law: Amy Walker.
She worked for the Bank of Galesburg until she married and most of all a farm wife, assisting her husband on the farm, raising her boys, and taking care of her family. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church of Knoxville, Illinois, the Knox County Farm Bureau, Sorosis Club and the Neighborhood Club of Gilson, Illinois. Marian and James would enjoy spending the winters in Florida, traveling in their motor home, and vacationing around the world.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 12:00 Noon, with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes & Crematory in Knoxville, Illinois. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Knoxville Cemetery, Knoxville, Illinois. Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church or the University of Illinois Extension 4-H. On-line condolences and/or expressions of sympathy may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com
