Marilyn L. Hirsch

Marilyn L. Hirsch, 79, of Sioux City died Monday, Aug. 20, 2007, at her residence following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

A celebration of life will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home.

Marilyn was born April 26, 1928, in Minneapolis, the daughter of Neal and Ruth (Loucks) Lasley. She grew up and attended schools in Minneapolis. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1950. She became a flight attendant for Mid-Continent Airlines based out of their hub in Minneapolis.

She met her future husband, Elliott Wooldridge while working. They were married in 1952. To this marriage, three sons were born, Jeff, Steve and Neal. They moved to Sioux City and she became the first woman realtor in Sioux City. She worked in that profession until she started her family in 1954. The couple were divorced after 10 years of marriage.

She married Dr. H. Norton Hirsch in June 1963. Dr. Hirsch had three sons, Stephen, Tom and Chuck, whom she loved as her own. The friendship and love grew and the boys became one family.

She was heavily involved in the mid 1980s in finding a better living arrangement for her middle son, Steve, who had become disabled. She was instrumental in getting Opportunities Unlimited, a residential facility for young mentally alert, physically handicapped adults, built and off the ground. She remained on its advisory board until her death. In 1980, she went back to her real estate career and continued with it until retiring in December 2006, due to ill health.

She enjoyed gardening, cooking, spending time at Lake Okoboji, traveling and spending time with her family and her dogs.

Survivors include three sons, Jeff Wooldridge and his wife, Melissa of Sioux City, Steve Wooldridge of Sioux City and Neal Wooldridge and his fiancee, Patti Gill of Sioux City; three stepsons, Steve Hirsch of Solon, Iowa, Tom Hirsch and his wife, Linda of Lincoln, Neb., and Chuck Hirsch and his wife, Sue of Sioux City; two sisters, Jane Reid of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Nancy and her husband, George MacGibbon of Minneapolis; and seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Wooldridge, Jared Wiig, Nealy Wooldridge, Kelsey Gill, Jonathon Hirsch, Lindsay Hirsch and Blake Hirsch.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Dr. H. Norton Hirsch.

Pallbearers will be her sons and her grandson, Jared Wiig.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Opportunities Unlimited or the June E. Nylen Cancer Center.