Marjorie Wickoren

December 21, 1942 — July 13, 2026

Paola, Kansas

Marjorie Wickoren, 83, of Paola, Kansas, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2026.

Marjorie was born on December 21, 1942, in Walden, New York, to Eno Van Dam and Marjorie (Zwardt) Van Dam.

On August 22, 1970, she married the love of her life, Dean Wickoren, in Walden, New York. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and service, and were blessed with two sons, Daniel and Joel.

Marjorie dedicated her career to caring for others as a registered nurse. She began her nursing career at Midway Hospital in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she served from 1965 to 1974. She later continued her calling at Miami County Hospital, where she faithfully cared for patients from 1989 until her retirement in 2009.

Marjorie found great joy in the simple blessings of life. She loved baking, cooking, gardening, tending to her flowers, sewing, practicing calligraphy, singing, and spending time with family over board games—especially Scrabble. Her Christian faith was the foundation of her life. She was a devoted member of Pearl Street Baptist Church for many years and, in more recent years, attended Rutlader Outpost Cowboy Church.

Known throughout the community for her generous heart, Marjorie rarely visited family, friends, or neighbors without bringing a homemade treat. Those fortunate enough to receive her pumpkin bread, apple turnovers, or warm cinnamon rolls will remember those delicious gifts almost as fondly as they remember the kindness, warmth, and love with which they were shared.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved son, Daniel Wickoren.

She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Dean Wickoren, of the home; her son, Joel Wickoren; her grandchildren, Nathan, Andrea, Jacob, Sarah, Maxwell, Foster, Evan, Naia, and Irelyn; her stepchildren, Marty and Nancy Wickoren, Mark and Jeanette Wickoren, Richard Wickoren, Aida Wickoren, Carmen Braun, and Eric and Sara Wickoren; her step-grandchildren, Anna, Carmen, Jennifer, John, Laura, Andy, Samuel, April, Lexi, Holly, and Shade; and her great-grandchildren, George, Lily, Hailey, Margot, Connor, Calvin, Klay, and Hashim.

Celebration of life will be at a later date.

(Published in the Linn County Journal on July 22, 2026.)