Marianne Cole

Sept. 13, 1931--Jan. 4, 2011

INDIANOLA, Nebraska -- Marianne Cole, 79, passed away on Tuesday (Jan. 4, 2011), at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.

Marianne was born on Sept. 13, 1931, in Culbertson, Nebraska to Henry C. and Helen E. (Hill) Sitzman. She graduated from Culbertson High School in 1948. She continued her education at McCook Junior College.

On Aug. 7, 1949, she married Kenneth D. Cole in Culbertson. They made their home in several locations including Scottsbluff, Palisade, and Trenton, Nebraska before settling in Indianola in 1979. Marianne was a busy homemaker and mother of five children: Kenneth, Connie, Jerry, Marilea and Cathy Jo.

She was a member of the Indianola United Methodist Church and Methodist Women. She loved to bowl, sew, read, work crossword puzzles and spend time in her flower and vegetable garden. She volunteered her time announcing baseball games when her children were young. Other favorites included her exercise group at the YMCA and keeping up with family and friends by Facebook.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Henry and Helen Sitzman; daughter, Cathy Jo; great-grandchild, Daniel Allen; one sister, Betty Schwenk; and one brother, Gary Sitzman.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Kenneth Cole Sr. of Indianola; children, Kenneth D. Cole Jr. and wife, Mag of McCook, Nebraska, Connie and husband, Bill Wilkinson of Culbertson, Jerry Cole and wife, Babette of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Marilea and husband, Jeff Nicholson of Indianola; two brothers, Richard Sitzman of Indianola and Bill Sitzman of Culbertson; two sisters, Barbara and husband, Dolyn Brown Sr. of Culbertson and Kathie Dueter of McCook; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; numerous family and a host of friends.

Memorials may be given in her name.

Visitation is Thursday, 1-8 p.m., at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home.

Funeral services are Friday, 2 p.m., at the Indianola United Methodist Church with Rev. Sherry J. Sklenar officiating. Burial will follow in the Trenton Cemetery.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.