Marian Louise Pribyl

Marian Pribyl, 87, of Stevensville, passed away Saturday, January 2, 2016 from Pancytopenia. Born in Minnesota Lake, MN, to Frank & Bertha (Neitzel) Klunder, Marian grew up on a farm with the local school house occupying a 1/4 acre at the edge of the farm. This began her life-long love of learning and sharing. Marian graduated from Mankato State Teachers College and married her post-war sweetheart, Francis Pribyl of Lakefield, MN. Together they set out to make their home in Southwest Michigan, where he was employed by Whirlpool and she soon taught at Baroda Elementary. They continued their adventure together for the next 65 years. Marian enjoyed dancing, traveling, baking, sewing, playing cards and sharing her life with family and friends. Gracefully she battled with narcolepsy and remained active to the end, playing bridge with friends and at the Senior Center, solving elaborate jigsaw puzzles and attending St. John’s Lutheran Church of Baroda. Marian was preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers and 3 sisters. Marian is survived by her spouse, Francis J. Pribyl of Stevensville; 3 children, Kathryn Schmitt of Kalamazoo, Jeff Pribyl of Baroda and Greg Pribyl of Bridgman; along with 6 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and 1 sister. Inurnment was held Friday, January 8, 2016 at Hickory Bluff Cemetery in Stevensville. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be accepted to assist those living with a range of cognitive and physical disabilities including narcolepsy via Canine Partners for Life in care of Starks & Menchinger Chapel. Those wishing to share a memory of Marian online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com For the compassionate caring and treatment received, special thanks from Marian’s family to all at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph, University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor and Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville.