Karolyn “Curly” Marks

Karolyn “Curly” Delores (Frederickson) Marks was born February 20,1951, in Sleepy Eye, MN, to Annette and Arden Frederickson, one month after her father Arden was killed in a plane crash. She attended school and graduated from St Mary’s High School with the class of 1969. She began her work career with 3M in New Ulm, being there for around 30 years. She later worked for Schutz Family Foods and Family Dollar. No matter where she worked, her co-workers became lifelong friends. Curly loved her friends and classmates like they were family and getting the chance to visit with any of them were highlights of her days.

Curly was married to Leon (Half-Pint) Marks, and though they later divorced, they remained friends. To this marriage two children were born, Brian and Kathy. She also gained a daughter by marriage, Amy. Family was everything to Curly, and she kept her doors open and welcomed everyone for all events and holidays. Curly and her sisters were not only sisters but also the Best of Friends. Before she had children, Curly was the best auntie to her nieces and nephews. They all loved spending time with her and were excited when she got to babysit. She used to say she had the best nephews because they gave the best bear hugs. Curly’s greatest treasures in her life were her two youngest grandsons, Hayden and Kane, and she enjoyed doting on them. She was the most devoted grandma to them and never missed a moment to cuddle them and tell them how much she loved them. Curly was also her daughter Kathy’s best friend. They loved to do jigsaw puzzles together, try to win big on scratch offs, and just sit together and enjoy one another’s presence. In her free time, Curly enjoyed reading. Her greatest love in life, above all, was her family.

Curly died on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 71.

Curly is survived by daughter, Kathy Marks; stepdaughter, Amy (George) Grosam; son, Brian (Katie) Marks; grandchildren, Hayden Bennett and Kane Marks, Gabriella, Juliette, Phillip and Sebastian Marks, Matt and Mark Hillesheim and Justin and Matt Grosam; sisters, Brenda (Mike) Walden and Karen (Ken) Schaefer; sister-in-law, Patricia Frederickson; former sister-in-law, Julie Marks; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arden and Annette Frederickson; stepdad, Neil Johnson; three brothers, Jon, Jim and Bruce Frederickson; sister-in-law, Linda¬ Frederickson; and former parents-in-law, Ellsworth “Pete” and LaMae Marks in addition to her grandparents.