Marlene Cox

Marlene Elaine Stanford Cox, born on April 8, 1940, passed away peacefully at the age of 84 on October 23, 2024. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law and friend. A Funeral Service for Marlene will be held on November 16, 2024, at 12:00pm at Crosslake Lutheran Church. Family and friends are invited to gather an hour prior to the start of the service at the church. Lunch will be served following the service. 

Marlene spent her young life in Madison, South Dakota before marrying Jack and moving to Spokane, Washington to help grow Jack’s audiology business and start a family. In Spokane, they raised their four children with a support of her dear mother Selma Deipholz. In 1970, Anne Marie was born and the opportunity to move to Minnesota directed them to the little town of Twig, near Duluth, Minnesota, where they raised Morgan horses. Marlene continued to paint and write, while raising her family, helping build the family business and cherishing being a homemaker. 

Starting her college studies in her late 30’s, Marlene attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in fine art history. She also pursued graduate work and studied with Bela Petheo at St. John’s University. A volunteer of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Marlene also served as Chair of the Art program through Friends of Tweed, the Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota, Duluth. 

Once the children were grown, she and Jack sold the cabin in Nisswa and built their beautiful lake home on Gull Lake where they created many wonderful family memories and continued to grow Jack’s audiology business. After retirement, Jack and Marlene moved to Florida where they built their winter home. Loving the lakes area and deeply connected to Minnesota, they settled into Cross Lake where they continued to be part of their church community and enjoyed retired life. Most recently, they were part of The Waters community and appreciated the wonderful care and being close to family in the Twin Cities. 

Marlene is described as a loving mother, loyal wife and gifted watercolor artist and writer who cherished her family and friends. Her poem Dances For Earth was written in 1980 and published in 1994 by the National Library of Poetry, Library of Congress. Her written work was entered into the National Library of Poetry Competition where it received the Editor’s Choice Award in 1994. 

She was preceded in death by her dear mother Selma Henrietta Stanford Diepholz (Schroeder), her father Robert E. Stanford Sr. and dearly loved brothers, Robert Stanford and Duane Stanford, whose memories remained celebrated throughout her life. 

Marlene is survived by her husband Jack B. Cox, her five children; Teresa Kolar (John Kolar), Daniel Cox (Tanya Cox), Roxanne Lingle (Darryl Lingle), Susan Fick (Douglas Fick) and Anne Marie Cox, along with grandchildren; Alison Kolar, Brenna Kolar, Bernard Kolar (Michelle), Emily Lingle, Hayden Lingle (Annie), Olivia Sharif (Mo), Madison DeCou (Zachary) Rose Kurvers, John Fick, Andy Fick, and great grandchild (Stella Peterson).

In memory of Marlene, donations can be made to the Tweed Museum of Art, at the University of Minnesota - Duluth.

Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Crosslake.