Marilyn Grasser

Marilyn Grasser

Long time Palmer resident, Marilyn Jane Grasser, passed away October 25, 2021, at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneer’s Home in Palmer Alaska.

A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Palmer at 440 E. Elmwood Ave. at 2:00 pm on November 23, 2021. A reception will follow the service downstairs.

Marilyn was born on March 5, 1932 to John and Wilda Harris in Rural Valley, Pennsylvania.

She made her long trip to Alaska with her parents and siblings from Pennsylvania in 1947. They resided in Eska where her Dad worked in the Jonesville Coal Mine for many years. Marilyn moved to Palmer after her marriage to Marlin J. Grasser in 1950. They had three children: Edward, Peggy, and Jeanne.

Marilyn was an independent, creative, and hard-working person. She held lots of different jobs in Palmer including working at the Frontier Café, the D’ Gutter restaurant, Lee’s Dress Shop and field work on the local farms. However, her most rewarding and loved job was as co-owner with her daughter Jeanne of Fun ‘N Fancy women’s clothing store. It always made her smile in her retirement years when a woman would approach her and tell her, “I bought this at your dress shop and I am still wearing it!” She was so proud of her shop and how the women of the Valley appreciated it even years after closing the shop.

Marilyn was a wonderful mother and a very caring person. She was also a talented baker and cake decorator. She would always tell us she probably baked wedding cakes for half the weddings in Palmer. Her grandson Ben remembers her fondly as a wonderful cook and grateful for having her so close so he could spend time with her learning how to cook.

Marilyn is survived by her two sisters, Donna Magnussen and Wilda Boggs; her son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Susan Grasser; her daughter, Peggy Mulligan, daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne Grasser and Kurt Schoephorster; and grandson, Ben Mulligan. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Wilda Harris; brother, Walt; sister, Betty; son-in-law, Patrick Mulligan; and partner Wendell Lewis.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Palmer Future Farmers of America at the following website: https://schoolpay.com/pay/for/FFA-Memorial-Fund-/ScESpCh.