Marilyn Sue Schmidt, nee Ahring, age 65, born November 4, 1951 in Belleville, Ill., passed away Tuesday morning, July 11, 2017, at her home, in Breese, Ill., with her family at her side.

Marilyn grew up in O'Fallon and began her affiliation with the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls at the age of 12, serving as Worthy Advisor of her local Assembly and as a Grand Representative and on the Grand Cross of Color Team on the state level, remaining active throughout her life. She served as the Chairwoman of the State Executive Committee for many years.  Through the many good works of Rainbow, Marilyn honed her leadership skills, and was able to mentor other young women.

Marilyn graduated from O'Fallon Township High School in 1969, and earned her Bachelor of Education degree from Eastern Illinois University.  She taught at Kaskaskia College for 10 years prior to beginning her career with the Adult Education Program at KC. She worked as the program administrator, supervising and coordinating adult education programs for many years. She worked for the Illinois Community College Board, and was the former president of Illinois Adult and Continuing Educators Association (IACEA).  As a respected board member of the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE), she successfully chaired two national conferences.

She valued her volunteerism and her work with adult education, but Marilyn found great joy in spending time with her family. She married Steven Kenneth Schmidt on July 30, 1977 at O'Fallon United Church of Christ. Together with Steve, they camped and traveled often with their parents, and her sister Carol, and her family. They especially enjoyed their summer trips to Greers Ferry Lake in Arkansas. Marilyn was a kind and generous wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.

She was preceded in death by her sweet infant daughter Lynne Marie in 1979;  her parents Milford and Shirley, nee Gentsch, Ahring; and her father-in-law, Kenneth Schmidt. Memorial donations are suggested to the family or to Illinois Rainbow Scholarship Fund, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Surviving are her husband Steve, of Breese; sister Carol (Jim) Nelson of O'Fallon; nephew Jason Nelson; and her mother-in-law Dolores "Jean" Schmidt, and many cousins and extended family members.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 4:00 – 8:00 pm, Thursday, July 13, 2017  and after 10:00 am, Friday, July 14, 2017 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon.

Funeral: 11:00 am, Friday, July 14, 2017 at the funeral home, with friend and colleague Mr. John Muirhead officiating. Burial will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill.