Marlene Ann Kolle

Marlene Kolle, 91, Linn, died April 1, 2026 at the Clay County Medical Center, Clay Center, KS.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 7 at the Linn Funeral Home in Linn. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

A funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 8 at Zion Lutheran Church in Linn with Rev. Timothy Koch officiating.

Burial will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

On March 27, 1935, the Lord blessed Clarence and Emilie (Ohlde) Meyer of Linn, KS with the gift of a daughter, Marlene Ann. She was baptized on April 4, 1935 in Zion Lutheran Church, Linn by Rev. Karl H. Karstensen.

Marlene attended Zion Lutheran Grade School. She was confirmed in the saving faith of Jesus Christ on April 10, 1949 by Rev. W. S. Biel. She was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church. She attended and graduated from Linn Rural High School in 1953. She was employed at the Washington County Creamery in Linn as a bookkeeper for several years.

On June 10, 1955, Marlene was united in marriage to Elmer Kolle at Zion Lutheran Church by Rev. W.S. Biel. They made their home north of Linn on the family farm. They were blessed with three children — Sheryl, Royce, and Jim.

Marlene was a member of the Dorcas Society at Zion. She enjoyed helping serve many auctions, banquets, funerals, and anniversaries. She was also a Sunday School teacher for several years. Marlene found it rewarding assisting Elmer when he was on the board with the Lutheran Layman’s League. They enjoyed all the traveling, meeting with their friends, and working for the Lord.

She enjoyed working with children and volunteered as a community leader of the Linn Livewires 4-H club for 6 years. Marlene enjoyed the farming operation and the livestock and worked together with Elmer, Royce, and Jim. She also assisted with the family farm bookwork.

Her hobbies were yard work, flowers, and gardening. She enjoyed canning her fruits and vegetables.

Marlene and her husband Elmer loved and enjoyed their family very much, especially the grand- and the great-grandchildren. They attended many of their school and church activities. Everyone had a great time when they would come to the family farm, enjoying snacks or a meal with Grandpa & Grandma.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Elmer in 2014; brother Lowell Meyer and sister-in-law Sharon Meyer; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Bill and Nyla Voelker, Marvin and Lorene Kolle, Mark & Dorothy Minnie, and Ivan and Sophie Bosse; and granddaughter Brett Kolle.

Marlene is survived by her children Sheryl (Ron) Richter of Green, KS, Royce (Deanna) Kolle, and Jim (Gina) Kolle both of Linn, KS; brother Jerry (Bernita) Meyer of Clay Center, KS; 14 grandchildren Dustin (Colby) Richter, Jill (Justin) Whitney, Jamie (Cody) Duitsman, Carly Kolle, Carissa Kolle, April Kolle, Brady (Melissa) Kolle, Kyle (LeAnn) Kolle, and Amber Kolle; 10 great-grandchildren Jayde and Clay Richter, Madison, Brinley, Chase, and Carson Whitney, Lane, Kendall, Jake, and Sam Duitsman; and many nephews, nieces, and friends.

A memorial fund is established to the Zion Lutheran Church Parish Hall Fund or Lutheran Hour Ministries. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, PO Box 157, Washington, KS 66968