Obituary of Marion A. Dunnington

Marion A. (Peplinski) Dunnington, 85, of Jefferson, died unexpectedly on Jan. 8, 2012, at her home. Marion was born on July 16, 1926, in Milwaukee, daughter of the late Anton and Anna Peplinski. She grew up in Milwaukee and graduated from Rufus King High School in 1944. She worked in retail stores for a time before her marriage. She married Donald Dunnington on Sept. 25, 1948, in Milwaukee. He preceded her in death on March 17, 1997. The couple lived in Milwaukee in the early years of their marriage, later spending several years in Baraboo. They moved to Fort Atkinson for a few years before settling in Jefferson in 1969. Marion was a homemaker, raising their five children and helping Don with home projects. She greatly enjoyed sewing, making clothing, stuffed animals and quilts. She also did embroidery, giving away many sets of dish towels to family members over the years. She assisted her church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jefferson, by creating banners and doing decorating, along with her husband. She also loved working crossword and jigsaw puzzles and making meals for her family. She relished being a grandmother, and helped care for many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and Don operated the Schweiger Retail Fabric Outlet store for several years before opening their own fabric and craft shop, Fur the Fun of It, where Marion created stuffed animals and special projects for their customers. They retired and closed the shop in the mid-1990s, but she continued to do sewing and clothing alterations for customers out of her home. After her husband's death, Marion moved to rural Jefferson, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Bradley Aumann, for 13 years. She more recently moved into an apartment in the city. Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis and Pam Dunnington of Fort Atkinson, Douglas and Carrie Dunnington of Franklin and James and Rae Jean Dunnington of Jefferson; two daughters and sons-in law, Deborah and Bradley Aumann of rural Jefferson and Mary and Brian Thomsen of Valders. She is further survived by 13 grandchildren and their spouses, Tina and Mark Russell, Michelle Dunnington, Heather Dunnington and her special friend, Joe Beavers, Kevin and Veronica Dunnington, Bryan Dunnington, Darrell and Jennifer Dunnington, Adam and Tessa Dunnington, Matthew Aumann, David Aumann, Andrew Aumann, Michael Aumann, Eric Thomsen and Katherine Thomsen; and four great-grandchildren, Jordyn Dunnington, Zachary Russell, Anika Dunnington and Macie Beavers. Other survivors include two sisters, Claire Barsch of Muskego and Edith (Betty) Peplinski of Oak Creek; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Lois Peplinski of Massillon, Ohio; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents, Anton and Anna Peplinski; a sister, Carol Peplinski; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Visitation will be at the Schneider-Michaelis Funeral Home, 900 W. Racine St., Jefferson, on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the Rosary recited at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Jefferson, on Friday, Jan. 13, from 11 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at noon. The Rev. Thomas Coyle will celebrate the Mass, with burial to follow at the parish cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Donald and Marion Dunnington Memorial Scholarship Fund or to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jefferson. Online condolences may be sent to www.schneidermichaelisfuneralhome.com.