Obituary of Corliss Mae Marowske

Marowske, Corliss Mae (nee Maienschein), died November 4, 2009, at her home in Grosse Pointe Farms. She was born on December 22, 1924, in Detroit. Beloved wife of the late Robert, married at Our Saviour Lutheran Church. Loving mother of Gary (Kathy Chuba) and Kyle (Joe) Clor. Dear grandmother of Trevor (Amy Urban) Clor, Tylor Clor, Kerri & Troy Marowske. Great grandmother of one TBA in April. Sister of Gloria (Jerry) Strang and Joan (James) Burns. Sister-in-law of Jean (the late Roy) Marowske and Arnold (the late Betty) Dahike. In her youth Corliss, "Corky" attended Mackenzie High School in Detroit where she played on the basketball team. She would also spend summers in Evansville, Indiana with her Uncle Fred and Aunt Rubye Zeidler, to help her parents through the depression. She talked often her times there, going to the minor league ballpark with relatives who maintained the park, as well as riding along with the flower deliveries from the Zeidler's florist. That must be where her love of arranging centerpieces, and her love of baseball came from. She should have been a party planner. Corky loved organizing and decorating for various affairs. She even made all of the centerpieces for Trevor and Amy's wedding last November and always had a new theme for the annual Valparaiso University Guild Christmas Tea. Corky loved following the Tigers, not only in Detroit but also in Lakeland, FL. Her and Bob enjoyed their home in Lakeland since 1969 when they followed the Tigers to Spring Training. Corky worked at the Bank of the Commonwealth for many years before marriage and in the early years until Bob started Flame Furnace in 1949. She was a proud member of Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, the Detroit Athletic Club, the Country Club of Detroit, Grasslands Golf Club in Lakeland, Fl, the Valparaiso University Guild, the Grosse Pointe Women's Club, and of the Our Saviour Luncheon Group. Corky was awarded the Lutheran Woman of the Year in 1983, the Partners in Service Award, along with daughter, Kyle from Valparaiso University in 1999 and the Lamp of Learning Award from the Lutheran Highs School Association in 2004. She loved to travel with anyone who would go, but especially with her family, that means the grandchildren! Christmas was her favorite time of the year; she was known to be referred to as "Mrs. Christmas" at Trinity, where she decorated numerous trees each year. Corky also enjoyed entertaining and giving at Christmas. Christmas morning was still spent with the children and grandchildren every year and Christmas Day with the whole family at her home where she made dinner. Corky was an avid reader. She was never without several books that she was reading! If not reading she would be busy with her crossword puzzles and sudoku. She supported Valparaiso University, Historic Trinity, Salvation Army, Good Fellows, Friends of Vision, Lutheran High School Association., and was a Grosse Pointe South Choir Booster. Corky was extremely proud of all her grandchildren and especially never missed a choir event at Grosse Pointe South! Corky will be dearly missed by all of her family and friends. She was full of life and never let anything slow her down. Even a bout with breast cancer didn't stop her. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2009, at 11am (gathering starting at 9:30am) at Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, 1345 Gratiot Ave., Detroit. Memorials may be made to the Robert Marowske Endowment at Valparaiso University or to Historic Trinity Lutheran Church.