In Memoriam: Marilyn Ann Thorbjornsen, Lt Col, US Army (Ret)

Our dear friend, Marilyn Thorbjornsen, died unexpectedly last Friday in Madison, Alabama. Her son, Lee, home on leave from the Army, was with her when she went into distress and an ambulance was called. Unfortunately, Marilyn passed away before she could get to a hospital.

Marilyn was born on February 13, 1952, in Normal, Illinois. She spent a career in the United States Army, with assignments around the world. She rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring. After her retirement from the Army, Marilyn obtained a teaching credential and began working for the Madison, Ala., City Schools. Students and parents describe Marilyn as "awesome," "great," "young-hearted," and "beloved." And those sentiments come as no surprise.

There were few finer human beings on this planet than Marilyn. Always positive, she was proud of her children and cared about all with whom she came in contact.

Marilyn is survived by her three adult children, Krissy A. Thorbjornsen and twins Kelly Sue Thorbjornsen and Lee Thomas Thorbjornsen; sister, Becky Jo Behnke; brother, Steven T. Goss; mother, Loretta Goss; and grandson, Michael Thomas Camp-Thorbjornsen.

Marilyn will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

UPDATE (10:02 pm PDT, 6/21/07): The Huntsville Times ran this feature article about Marilyn yesterday.