Marcella (Marcie) M. Harbeck, 95, passed away at her home in Kewaskum on Monday, January 5, 2015 surrounded by her daughters and grandchildren.
She was born October 29, 1919 in Milwaukee, a daughter of Louis and Agnes (Brodzeller) Heisler. They preceded her in death. Marcie moved to Kewaskum with her parents and brothers when she was a child after they purchased a tavern business in Kewaskum.
She married William (Bill) Harbeck at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Kewaskum, on May 28, 1938. Bill preceded her in death on August 10, 1988.
Marcie was the former co-publisher of The Kewaskum Statesman that she owned with her husband from 1954 until 1988, when she sold the business to her daughter, Lana Kuehl. She then continued to assist at the newspaper, alongside her daughter, Lana, and grandson, Andrew, and his wife Nicole Kuehl. She retired in 2002. The fourth generation of the Harbeck-Kuehl family continues to operate The Statesman.
Prior to her marriage, Marcie was employed as a hairdresser in Kewaskum and helped her parents at Heisler’s Tavern.
Marcie was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, all while meeting the weekly deadline of printing Kewaskum’s newspaper. She spoke often about the hazards of setting news in hot metal, the tedious job of newspaper work at that time and the amazing differences of then and now. In her retirement she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially in her screened-in gazebo where many cherished family memories were formed.
Survivors include two daughters Sharon Baldikowski of Milwaukee and Lana Kuehl of Kewaskum; eight grandchildren, Tom (Debbie) Timblin, of Kewaskum, Todd Timblin, Tami (Mike Beal) Timblin of Kewaskum and Trev (Terri) Timblin of Fredonia; Staci (Jim) Eisch of West Allis; Andrew (Nicole) Kuehl of Kewaskum, Dustin (special friend Becky Weber) Kuehl of Random Lake and Ross Kuehl of Fond du Lac; 16 great-grandchildren, Shaun, Courtney, Joshua, Bryanne (fiancé Michael Kertscher) and Caleb Timblin; Brittany (special friend Bill Schmitt) Timblin, Brent Timblin, Alexis (Ryan) Rauch and Jordan Beal; Tocarra (Josh) Theisen, T.J. (fiancé Justice Roeder) Timblin and Tanner Timblin; Kaci and Kori Eisch, and Hunter and Riley Kuehl; two great-great grandchildren, McKinley Timblin and Kailey Rose Rauch; a sister-in-law, June Heisler of Fond du Lac, nieces and nephews.
Those who preceded her in death include her daughter, Carole Timblin; three sons-in-law, Henry Timblin, Donald Baldikowski and Dennis Kuehl; her brothers, Ralph Heisler, Russell Heisler and his wife Helen, Frank Heisler, and Louis Heisler Jr., and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Frank and Helen Felix.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, January 15, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Kewaskum. Father Neil Zinthefer officiated and burial followed in the parish cemetery. Marcie’s family greeted relatives and friends at the church on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until the time of Mass.
Special thanks are extended from the family to Marcie’s caregivers: Laura Mueller, Patti Weber, Lindsay Weber and to family members who helped out when needed. Their loving care provided to Marcie will never be forgotten. Also many thanks to Serenity Hospice caregivers and their Chaplain, Terry Mahler, who gave us so much inspiration, Fr. Nathan Reesman, who ventured out into the cold weather for Last Rites, and Fr. Mark Jones.
The Miller Funeral Home in Kewaskum was entrusted with Marcie’s arrangements.