Marianne Fritzler, 70, was called home on Saturday, December 15, 2012.  She passed away peacefully with family by her side at Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance.

Marianne was born October 27, 1942 at Alliance, Nebraska to Harry and Joy (Martindale) VanKirk. 

 She met LaVerne Fritzler and they married on February 9, 1964 at the First Christian Church in Alliance.  To this union 2 sons were born, Tony and Marty. 

 Following LaVerne’s death on December 18, 1969, Marianne dedicated her life to providing exceptional love and care to generations of Alliances’ children.  She retired from her in-home daycare but found she missed the kids. She returned to her calling, and for the last 5 years continued to touch lives by being a foster grandparent at Alliance Head Start, retiring in June of this year.  Marianne never met a child she didn’t love; just as every child she met knew her kind heart.  She was a member of the First Christian Church in Alliance.

 Marianne is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Tony and Wendy Fritzler of Alliance and Marty and Brenda Fritzler of Chadron; sister and brother-in-law, Sally and Bob Mowbray of Port Angeles, WA; grandchildren, Brad Fritzler of Chadron, Kayla Hatch and husband Caleb of Alliance, Alex and Brooklynn Fritzler of Chadron, and Rhegan and Creighton Fritzler of Alliance; and great granddaughters, Allison and Addison and two great grandchildren on the way.  She is also survived by her nieces Marcy Long from California and Sarah Stahl from Washington, and nephew David Long and wife Karen from Washington.  Marianne was preceded in death by her loving husband LaVerne Fritzler and her parents Harry and Joy VanKirk.

 Memorial services will be held Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church with Jeanie Sedivy officiating.  Inurnment will be in the Alliance Cemetery. 

 Memorials can be directed to Jane’s Closet, P.O. Box 810, Alliance, Nebraska, 69301, to support breast cancer.

 Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.  Bates-Gould Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.