Marilyn Jean Deakin, age 94, passed away peacefully, with children at her side, on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Reedsburg Area Medical Center.

Marilyn, who preferred to be called Jean, was born in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, on December 17, 1931, to parents Wenona Catherine (Hainstock) and Charles Buford Markham. After the deaths of her birth parents, Jean, age 7, and her sister Audrey, age 2, were raised by her maternal aunt and uncle, Wilma (Hainstock) and Clarence Frank, whom she referred to as mother and dad.  She also gained a brother, Leonard Frank, son of Wilma and Clarence.

Jean graduated from Reedsburg High School in 1949, and then attended U.W. Whitewater, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education in 1953.

On December 20, 1952, Jean married Raymond Voigt Deakin, at Reedsburg United Methodist Church, where she was a lifelong member and where they worshipped throughout their marriage. 

Together they had nine children.  Raising their children became her career. She encouraged their various interests and always managed to find the money for lessons, musical instruments, or sporting fees/equipment/uniforms to support those interests. She treasured her children’s accomplishments and was proud of their careers and families. Visits from grandchildren, great-grandchildren and “grand-dogs” brought her so much joy.

While Jean had many interests, in her spare time she particularly enjoyed restoring antique furniture and collecting Reedsburg memorabilia.  She was an avid reader and enjoyed her daily crossword puzzles until her failing vision would no longer make these possible. She also liked following local high school sports, and the Badgers, Brewers, Bucks, and Packers.

Jean is survived by her nine children, Michael Deakin (Donna Haack), Terry Norman, Janie (Darrell) Mittlesteadt, Timothy Deakin (Debbie), Russell Deakin (Marcia Christensen), Patricia Deakin, Judy Deakin (Stephen Forest), Jill (Kenneth) Horkan, and Lynn Overend.  She is further survived by 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren (with #14 due in September), sisters-in-law Betty Frank, Yvonne Payne and Marlene Weil, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years on February 17, 2025, her birth and adoptive parents, brother Leonard Frank, sister Audrey Scott, brother-in-law Elton (Buzz) Scott, sister-in-law Dorothy Merkel, parents-in-law Viola and George Deakin, and son-in-law Steven Kunes.

Funeral services will be held at Farber Funeral Home in Reedsburg on Monday, June 8, 2026, at noon with Chaplain Daniel Farber officiating.  Visitation will be on Monday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service. Private family burial will be made in the Greenwood Cemetery.

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