1951
Marilyn "Mare"
2022
Marilyn "Mare" Sue Propstra
June 1, 1951 — November 30, 2022
Pheonix
Marilyn was born on June 1, 1951 to Jack and Suzanne Propstra. She grew up in Arcadia with her older siblings Diane and John and their many friends. Friends and family were an enormously important part of Marilyn’s life from her early years to the very end of her life. She never met a stranger or missed the chance to make meaningful connections, often silly and humorous, with everyone she encountered.
She graduated from Arcadia High School in 1969 and began her college adventure at the University of Southern California. She became a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority in the true tradition of her family. College years in California in the late sixties/early seventies for Mare were full of adventure, deep soul connections to friends, and a true love for the sand in her toes and days at the beach. After graduating from USC in 1973, she returned to Arizona where she dedicated her life to teaching at Ironwood Elementary School and Desert Foothills (both in the Washington School District). Mare is one of the few adults that loved teaching middle school math. She was creative and funny and used her gifts to connect with her students and fellow teachers, making the school day a little more interesting and tolerable for everyone. Her teaching abilities were off the chart as she had students laughing and learning at the same time. Students adored her as did everyone else who knew her. Above all, she cared for each and every student and took careful time to know them and help them become successful.
Mare was the embodiment of kindness and generosity. Her friendship, to anyone who was lucky enough to have it, was worth its weight in gold. She was fiercely loyal, free-spirited, adventurous, authentic, and fun-loving. She will always be remembered for her sense of humor and how much she cared about the people and animals (especially kitties) around her. She never missed the chance to share her love through gifts and funny cards. She was the kind of person one aspires to be, completely selfless and fun. In fact, “oh fun!” was her favorite saying especially as she celebrated each and every holiday. Her annual holiday celebrations were legendary and elaborate with "no expenses spared" decor and gifts. It was a sad day for us all when her unique persona no longer filled this world.
Marilyn is survived by her sister Diane Willian and brother John Propstra (Julie), nieces Sara Graf (Emil), Susan Westra (Dave), Christy Panter (Doug), Katy Bickham (Steve) and nephew Neil Willian (Mandy) along with many great nieces and nephews and many friends who were like family.
A celebration of life will take place at a later date.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marilyn "Mare" Sue Propstra, please visit our flower store.
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