Marilyn Anne Tanquist

Marilyn Anne Tanquist, RN, age 85, of Columbus, joined the heavenly Saints on March 27, at home, surrounded by her husband of 60 years, Dr. Robert Tanquist, and her family. Graduate of Dorchester (MA) HS for Girls (1943), and Mounds-Midway School of Nursing (St.Paul, MN) in the Cadet Nurse Corps (1947). She became a Christian early in life, and this relationship and her love for music, was a driving force in her many activities throughout her long life. Her husband's military career allowed them to travel to & live in many parts of the world, further stimulating her interest in Christian missions. Their retirement years in Columbus allowed her many opportunities to host & teach international students & their families. She taught with INCH & the ESL program in her church, where she also played piano, mentored, and served in many capacities. Preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Eric and Lillian Fernlund. Survived by her husband, their 6 children, Eric (Janet), Linda (Kamal) Boulos, Karin (Dr. Pat Coy), Mark (Leigh), Martha (John Soshnik, Esq.), Elizabeth (David) Knodt, and 7 grandchildren: Lilly & Jack Soshnik-Tanquist, Elisa, Kristoffer & Stephen Tanquist, Christianne Boulos, & Rachel Knodt; brothers Rev. Calvin (Nancy) Fernlund, Dr. Jay C. (Ethel) Fernlund and their families; lifetime friend, Shirley Wickman. Marilyn was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to Swedish immigrant parents. She was raised in a bilingual pastor's home where music was a big part of their lives. (Her parents' courtship began with a duet on a church platform.he was a visiting Baptist evangelist, and she a soloist in the choir.) Marilyn's favorite musical outlet has always been the piano, and her piano solos have been enjoyed in churches on three continents. Her childhood was spent in St. Paul & Redwing, Minnesota, and Boston, Massachusetts. She chose nursing as her field of study, and her science background included a brief war contribution at MIT working as a technician in the early development of radar. After completing nursing school she spent a year and a half travelling coast to coast in a Swedish Baptist youth ministry, called "God's Invasion Army". She worked as a psychiatric nurse until marrying Bob in 1950. (They met in 1945 on a streetcar on a bitter cold day in Minnesota..) Their international lifestyle began when he was assigned to Okinawa, Japan in 1953 to serve as a dentist in the Air Force. She followed him 6 months later, travelling alone with her first 2 children (ages 2 & 6 months), by train and ship.a story for another time. The Air Force presented Marilyn with new opportunities: transforming a house into a home in 12 different places, raising 6 children in frequently changing locations, adjusting to different cultures and climates. Childhood and adolescent challenges were met with her pithy wisdoms, "You're just going through a phase," and "This, too, shall pass." Moving meant new churches in each place and finding ways to serve others. These included: teaching Sunday school in Okinawa, meeting and encouraging missionaries, providing a home base for Bible translators and our denomination's missionaries in the Philippines, serving in the village Anglican church in England, organizing European Protestant Women's Retreats within the Air Force Chapel program, directing children's choirs, and always playing the piano. Marilyn never had empty hands.when they weren't holding babies, they were cooking, or sewing, knitting, or her favorite hobby: needlepoint. For many years she made all her & her daughters' clothes. Marilyn was known for her cooking, and hospitality was her specialty. Her "empty nest" has never been empty, for her home has truly been a welcoming home to thousands of guests. She had a special place in her heart for people of other cultures, becoming like a mother to many internationals who live in Columbus, continuing to use her mothering gifts long after her own 6 left home. Her gift of encouragement has touched the lives of many, and especially her 7 adored grandchildren. Her family sees her face in Proverbs 31:10-31. "Her children stand and bless her; so does her husband. He praises her with these words: 'There are many fine women in the world, but you are the best of them all! "It's easy to overlook that in the middle years of her busy and full life, she battled breast cancer. Her life was spared through surgery and radiation which left her with other challenges which she gracefully bore. Those struggles became more evident in these last 10 years, as heart and lung damage claimed her energy and eventually her life. Her valiant fight to keep going as her weakness increased has shown us all what a strong and amazing woman she was. She never complained, and kept a positive and hopeful attitude until the very end, always hoping that tomorrow she would wake up feeling better again. On March 27, she did wake up feeling strong and well again, in the arms of Jesus. This is the verse Marilyn left behind on her mirror: "For because of our faith, He has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has in mind for us to be." Romans 5:2 LB

Marilyn Anne Tanquist

March 27, 2011