Mrs. Marian Oldenberg (nee: Bair)

August 13, 1929 - December 2, 2020

Marian “Shorty” Oldenberg Oldenberg, Marian Faye, age 91, of Rochester, WI, peacefully floated up to the open arms of the heavens on December 2,2020 with her loving daughter by her side holding her hand and giving her one last kiss goodbye. Marian was born August 13,1929 to Volnie and Freda (York) Bair in Ladora, Iowa. At the age of 3, her family moved their entire farm from Iowa to Burlington, WI. In later years they made their home in Rochester. This is where Marian spent the next 80 years of her life. She was the current oldest, longest residing resident of Rochester. Friends and relatives would often come to her inquiring about historical photos, seeking out the names of people or placement of the area. She loved to look at pictures from the past, be it her own or someone’s who stopped to visit with theirs. She was always eager to gander through them and share her knowledge. Marian attended the Rochester Grade School and graduated from the Rochester Ag School where she was proud to be an “Aggie”. She served on many class reunion Committees. Marian and her friends always had lots of fun laughing and talking about their school days memories. She was told she was the last surviving member of her class. Marian and her friends would “hang out” at the gas station in Rochester and go sledding together. This was where she met the love of her life, Ralph Oldenberg. They were married on September 10, 1949 in the Rochester Congregational Church. They loved to go dancing, most of all polkas, with friends every weekend. Other favorite past times included taking trips, going to the Big Boy restaurant every Sunday and frequent trips to the Pioneer Inn in Oshkosh. Life by the Fox River gave her daily delight as she loved to see all the birds on and around the water. Favorites included the bald eagles, hummingbirds and cardinals, and counting how many hundreds of geese and ducks could be on the river at one time. She also enjoyed the squirrels playfully scurry around in the back yard. She could be found sitting up all hours of the night at the computer screen watching the Decorah, Iowa eagles when they had their babies. She would be so worried about the eaglets in the nest during a blizzard, a bad rainstorm or fighting with each other and falling out. She was their virtual babysitter. Marian was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, then did baby-sitting out of their home for several years, becoming “Mama Marian” to her little girls. In addition to being active in her younger years in the church choir, she helped organize and was a member of the Rochester Area Historical Society and later a member of the Red Hat’s. After taking courses at UW Whitewater, she became a teacher’s aide. Later she became the legendary librarian, “Shorty the Librarian”, for 25 years at the Waterford Graded School. When she wasn’t in the library you would likely find her on lunch or playground duty. She would even step in to play baseball with the kids, specifically the short stop position. It was then that she was nicknamed “Shorty” due to both her position on the team and her short stature. This name has been with her ever since and used by all who knew her. She embraced every child that touched her life along the way. There were many stories told about all the fun times shared with the school staff and heartwarming stories about the students. Marian was the recipient of two awards during her years at the school. The first was from the Waterford Graded School District and the second coming from the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Following retirement, Marian began to tutor out of her home, still loving the interaction with children. Along with her personality of being so generous and caring, she was always willing to help out anybody in any way she could. She had an artistic flare. Marian enjoyed painting pictures which were shown and sold at art fairs and given as gifts. She had also become the head bulletin board decorator at school. She enjoyed decorating and moving furniture around the house. You could often find her paging through Victorian magazines for ideas on how to change things up in her home or helping friends with theirs. She especially enjoyed hanging wallpaper, even on the ceiling! Christmas was her favorite holiday, going for rides to see all the lights, baking traditional favorites and having the house look like Christmas Central on steroids! It was always beautiful. Her flower gardens gave her much joy, waiting patiently for all the flowers to bloom in the spring and fill the yard with all their beautiful color. Being a farm girl, one of her favorite past times was going for car rides around the countryside to watch the crops coming up, new growth on the trees, fields being harvested in fall and leaves turning color. It was the simple pleasures in many aspects that brought her the greatest pleasures! In later years, daily laughs and memories were shared with her sister, Nancy, watching the Price is Right while having tea and cookies. She had a great sweet tooth. Marian agreed dessert should be eaten first and no surprise that she also thought pie should be served on a daily basis. Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and The Hallmark Channel were also watched most days, especially the Hallmark Christmas movies. She said that she could even be a cast member, knowing the lines, as the same movie would be watched over and over. The Brett Favre Packer era and Tiger Woods golf tournaments were her favorite tv sporting events. She could be heard throughout the house cheering them on or in upset with defeat. To her delight, Brett (in disguise) sent her a Christmas gift every year! Marian’s most treasured times though were those spent with her loving family. Always so genuinely thrilled to see them, giving each one affectionate greetings of a huge heart filled smile with a warm, embracing, loving hug and kiss. Playing cards with her grandchildren, having them do her nails, helping them with their scholastics were just a few of the priceless times they shared together. She truly cherished every moment and anything that was ever done or given to her. Words cannot express the massive loss felt but we will always worship the time we had with our tender loving hearted, thoughtful and devoted Mom, Gramma, Nana and sister. She will always hold a warm, treasured spot deep within our hearts and is a shining star who’s light will forever shine upon us with her undying love. Marian will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she touched in so many ways. Survived by her daughter, Cathy (Pat) Street, Grandchildren, Jacob (Leah) Street, Jordon Street, Katie (Tony) Ciardo; great-grandchildren, Corinne, Veronica, Whitley, George, Emma, Grace, Madelynn, Tony and one arriving in May; sister, Nancy Clem, brother-in-law, Mike Tesch, nieces, nephews and many, many dear friends. Preceded in death by her parents, dear husband Ralph Oldenberg, brother Robert Bair, sister, Midge Tesch, and brother-in-law, Don Clem. We would like to give a special “thank you” to the Rochester Rescue Squad members, Aurora Burlington Hospital ER, 2nd.Floor Physicians, staff and the Aurora Hospice Team for all their compassionate care. A private graveside service has been held with a Celebration of Life Memorial Gathering will take place later next spring. Memorials are suggested to Cathy Street, PO Box 444, Rochester, WI 53167 for the purchase and donation of a library reading bench in memory of “Shorty the Librarian”. TOGETHER AGAIN!