Theisen, Marlyn. Born in Wayzata, MN on June 14, 1937 and passed away on December 16, 2020 with loved ones nearby. Marlyn was preceded in death by… Marlyn will be remembered for his quick wit and silly antics. His claim that he never exaggerated and he never lied was met with guffaws from family. He worked at various jobs and for various companies in the real estate industry. His favorite job was driving a Minneapolis tour trolley which combined his love of history, driving, performance, and making friends with strangers. He was a consummate runner, especially of endurance races, and was known to sometimes train by running several marathons in a week. He was a versatile athlete who enjoyed playing, coaching, and watching most any sport, especially when family was participating. He was an amazing gardener, an avid reader of history and politics, and he loved to travel and share adventures with family. He cherished life and led a truly great one. He was loved by many and will be dearly missed. His Memorial Service will be postponed until family and friends can gather safely. Marlyn was a proud graduate of Minneapolis South High.
Empathy for Every Soul
As we come to the end of a very difficult year, 2020 stands out as a time when we lost an extraordinary number of souls who should not have departed this Earth this year. We remember and honor those who lost their lives to the global Covid-19 pandemic. We remember and honor those who lost their lives to climate change-induced disasters–massive fires in Australia and the Western part of the United States; devastating hurricanes and storms around the world; drought and hunger. We remember and honor those who lost their lives to police violence and racism. We mourn the loss of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbury, Elijah McClain, Andre Hill, and hundreds more. We mourn the loss of musicians John Prine, K.T. Oslin and Charley Pride; actors Nick Cordero and Carol Sutton; and many thousands more, including the elderly in senior care, and our front-line workers, from bus drivers to nurses.
This year, the words “Say their name” became an important phrase. Names signify individuals, not just categories like “Black” or “Gay” or “Elderly.” And so this year, we said their names. We learned about each person–their families, their lives, their passions, their personalities.
The new Pixar movie, Soul, is a most appropriate ending to this year of extreme loss. Its creator, Pete Docter, says, “one of the aims of this movie is to say that just by being alive, we all have value. We all deserve to enjoy whatever we have.” Every soul on Earth is important.
I have a friend who frequently reads the obituaries–not looking for people she knows, just making the connection with individual people, as their loved ones tell us about each cherished person. It is very moving to read these stories, and to see the similarities that connect us, and the things that make each person special.
Here is one of the millions of souls who have been memorialized this year:
Let this be our New Year’s resolution: Let us recognize and affirm that every soul deserves our empathy, respect and love.
Nice job Deb! You definitely captured the essence of this difficult year. Thank you for sharing, and showcasing Marlyn. Wow, running more than one Marathon in a week! ! I’m hoping these tragedies will lift us up to a new level and bring on a better year for 2021. Peace and empathy for us all!
Thanks, Kim!