Oct. 22, 2023
Marjorie J. Bucklin, 91, of Hutchinson passed away Oct. 22 at Harmony River Living Center. Memorial service was Saturday at Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Memorials preferred to Shriners Children's Twin Cities, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or Zion United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 248, Buffalo Lake, MN 55314. Clergy officiating was the Rev. Dave Drager. Organist was Bev Wangerin. Soloist was Kimberly Bergman, who performed “What a Wonderful World” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Congregational hymns were “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and “How Great Thou Art.” Obituary by Paul Messner. Readers were Jadyn Williams, Dawn Lueck and Tamie Morken.
Marjorie was born July 2, 1932, on the family farm in Kossuth County, Iowa. She was one of 12 children born of Henry and Celina (Wirtz) Schmidt. She grew up on the family farm and received her education in Winthrop. She worked on the family farm and various jobs in the Hector area, including the Hector Telephone Co. as an operator and in Hutchinson at Kraft Foods in the lab. She also sang with her sisters in various venues in the area and on local radio stations. Marjorie was employed at 3M in Hutchinson for 30 years until her retirement in 1992.
On Sept. 24, 1955, Marjorie was united in marriage to Dwane Bucklin at United Methodist Church in Hector. They shared 68 years of marriage. This marriage was blessed with two children, Brock and Chanda. Marjorie and Dwane resided in Buffalo Lake until moving to Hutchinson in 1987. They wintered in Orlando, Florida, for the past 28 years. Marjorie was a longtime member of Buffalo Lake Zion United Methodist Church, Order of the Eastern Star and the 3M Club. Marjorie enjoyed golfing, crossword/word search puzzles, Minnesota Twins, music, theater and her flower gardens. Marjorie, along with her family, traveled throughout the United States and the world, including Australia, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria and many cruises through the Caribbean. She enjoyed her neighbors, friends and family, especially her grandchildren, Jadyn and Chase.
Marjorie had recently entered Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson, under the care of hospice. Blessed be her memory.
Marjorie is survived by her husband, Dwane Bucklin of Hutchinson; son, Brock Bucklin of Orlando, Florida; daughter, Chanda (Brett) Williams of Duluth, Georgia; granddaughter, Jadyn Williams (16); grandson, Chase Williams (12); siblings, Bernadine Messner of Brownton, Mary Ann Theim of Escondido, California, Gladys Grundermann (Burgess) of Hutchinson, Dorothy Alsleben of Hutchinson, Lyle Schmidt (Miriam) of Hutchinson; brother-in-law, Blaine and Yvonne Bucklin of Surprise, Arizona; sisters-in-law, Lois Schmidt of Winthrop, MaryLou Bucklin of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; many nieces and nephews, extended family, neighbors, and friends.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Celina Schmidt; siblings, Arnold (Ruby) Schmidt, Arline (Burt) Lindstrand, Mildred (Alton) Clapp, Eldwin Schmidt, Viola (Don) Messner, Joyce (Mike) Abbell; brothers-in-law, Raymond Messner, Darold Theim and Iven Alsleben.
Arrangements by the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Online obituaries and guest book available at www.hantge.com.
