Marion Florence Fleming

Marion Florence Fleming, age 89, departed this life and entered her Heavenly home on Saturday, May 2, having suffered complications from an early-April stroke.  Her life will be celebrated for months and years to come by many who knew her and especially by her large family together with her church family.

She was known to be strong, deeply caring, frugal, generous, outgoing, independent, and hardworking. She was born on February 11, 1931 in South Haven to Fred C. and Florence (Samuelson) Lammlin. The Lammlins were a second-generation German immigrant family and so Marion was bilingual into her young adult life.  She had an older brother, Earl, and a younger brother Fred. This family was no stranger to tragedy and difficulty as Florence Lammlin died in 1948 when Marion was 17. Mr. Fred C. Lammlin later married Verona Bodfish Merleau, whose children are James and Freda.

Marion was a faithful assistant to her family in farm work and housework. She graduated from South Haven High school in 1949 as part of a large class that formed lifelong friendships and referred to itself as the Forty-Niners. She fell in love with a sturdy and rambunctious farm boy from Casco, Lynn Fleming. This relationship was sparked with some prompting from Lynn's younger brother Marvin and quickly blossomed. They were soon engaged and were married on October 7, 1950. Five children were born to the union: four daughters and one son. Mr. Fred Lammlin was once questioned as to how he became mixed up with the Flemings. He insisted that just because his daughter was married to a Fleming didn't mean he was mixed up.

Together, Lynn and Marion owned a farm in Casco where they worked and raised their family.  Marion wore many hats with apparent ease. She was a loving mother of her five children and later many grandchildren and great grandchildren all of whose birthdays and anniversaries she memorized. She kept flower gardens, fed calves, raked hay, chopped silage, kept the books, managed finances, mowed lawn, kept the house, tackled remodeling projects, was an accomplished singer, an excellent cook and a confectioner who made famous peanut brittle.  She and Lynn hosted the annual Casco sauerkraut production for many years. Marion was an active member of the Casco United Methodist Church where she was a faithful member of United Methodist Women and the church choir.  She also taught children’s Sunday School.

Marion was a friend to everyone she knew, even strangers.  A bigger heart could hardly be found.  Her passing comes just five months short of their 70th wedding anniversary.

She will be missed by everyone she knew, including her cats. She had an unshakeable faith in her LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, and so her family and friends are rejoicing that she is restored to perfect peace and fellowship in the presence of God. She will no doubt be enjoying eternal life with no restrictions and limitations.

Marion Fleming was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Earl and James, and her sister-in-law Sandra Lammlin.

She is survived by her husband, Lynn, her children Marilyn and Tom Jessup, Marie Fleming and Lyle McKee, Dan and Karen Sicard Fleming, Carol and Peyton Wood, and Beth and Rick Seiler, 31 grandchildren 25 great-grandchildren, her brother, Fred Lammlin and her sister, Freda Winkel.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Casco United Methodist Church or to The Mobility Project in care of the Casco United Methodist Church at 880 66th St., South Haven, Michigan.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).