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IN MEMORY

Marlene Hoyland (Zaleski) - Class Of 1953

Marlene Hoyland Zaleski of Cookeville,TN, passed away Wednesday, December 7, 2017.  She was born January 22, 1936 in Barron, WI, to Marjorie and Arnold Hoyland.  

Marlene was raised in Kenosha, WI with her three siblings.  Her life was forever changed when she met the love of her life, Peter Zaleski.  Theirs was a special bond like no other. They married on February 2, 1957, and eventually moved to Forrest City.  Marlene made a place for her family in the South, becoming a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a youth leader in Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church, president of the Forrest City School Board, was nominated for the Arkansas Community Service Award, was responsible for Forrest City's first integrated prom, and helped organize the Adopt-a-School program.

Marlene and Pete retired to Cookeville, TN in 1997.  Unfortunately, their life of playing golf and traveling was cut short with Pete's diagnosis of ALS.  She worked closely with Augie's Quest and was most proud of the book she wrote about Pete's struggle with ALS, called "For the Love of Pete."

Marlene touched the lives of many people with her smile and generosity. She never met a stranger and treated everyone with the same kindness and respect, no matter the situation or circumstance.  Marlene always put others first, and was ready to help with anything that was needed.  Marlene was living in Pensacola, FL at the time of her death.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Gwen Summers.

She is survived by her children, David (Jill) Zaleski, Susie (Tony) Redwine, Lori (Jim) Gerritsen and Marla (Bill) McCrary, as well as her 10 grandkids, Andrew, Hannah (Simon), Peter, Katherine, Sarah (Noah), Michael, Rebekah (Reid), Austin, Tess and Ava.  Marlene is also survived by her brother, Bernie and sister, Sherry.

Marlene's memorial service was held on Saturday, December 16, at Heavenly Host Lutheran Church in Cookeville, TN, followed by a luncheon.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Augie's Quest for ALS.

Published in Times-Herald on December 14, 2017