Marilyn Howland-Derrington

Marilyn Howland-Derrington age 87 of Sycamore, IL, and formerly of DeKalb, IL, died on Wednesday September 26, 2018. She was born as Marilyn Ruth Michaels to S.A. and Alice (Mieth) Michaels on Jan 19, 1931 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  She graduated from Central High School in 1949 and went on to Grand Rapids Junior College and then graduated from Calvin College with a B.A. in Education in 1954.  She taught Kindergarten in Grand Rapids for 4 years.

She married Richard H. Howland in June 1957.  Richard was a professor of Marketing at Ferris State College, he was promoted to department chairman there after completing his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan.  Richard was divorced with one Daughter.  In 1964, Richard was selected to be the head of the Marketing Department at Northern Illinois University (NIU).  By that time, Marilyn had 5 boys, Mike, Richard James (RJ), Mark, Doug, and John and during the summer months, Carol, her step daughter.  They all moved to DeKalb, Illinois in the summer of 1964.

Marilyn completed her Masters Degree in Education from NIU.  Mike, RJ, Mark, and Doug also graduated from NIU and John graduated from Kishwaukee Community College.   Mike went on to complete a Masters Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

After raising the boys, Marilyn worked at DeKalb Agriculture Research for 10 years.  You may know DeKalb Ag by the "flying corn cob" road signs marketing DeKalb seed corn.

Richard died of ALS in November 1990.  Several years later, Marilyn married her widowed neighbor and former dentist, Dr. Thomas (Tommy) Derrington.  Tommy passed on in May of 2006.

Marilyn was very active in her church, First Congregational Church, in DeKalb.  There she served as a Deacon, Trustee, and co-President of Woman's' Fellowship.  Her arthritis later prevented her from driving and attending church, but she continued to support FCC financially.  She was always devoted to her family, her church, and P.E.O Chapter IV.

She leaves behind her children, Michael, Richard, Mark, Douglas, John, and step daughter Carol as well as her 13 grand children and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands: Richard and Thomas, brother: Jack Michaels, and daughter-in-law: Teresa Howland.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday October 6, 2018 at 10:30am in the First Congregational United Church of Christ in DeKalb with Reverend Joseph Gastiger officiating. Burial will be in the Garfield Cemetery in Campton Hills, IL, on Saturday October 6, 2018 at 2:00pm. Visitation will be held on Friday October 5, 2018 at 5:00pm till 7:00pm in the Finch Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the ALS Association. Arrangements were entrusted to: Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL, 60115 (815) 758-3841.