DIXON – Marion Margaret Gronis, 95, of Dixon, formerly of Sterling, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at Dixon Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. She was employed by Frantz Manufacturing and Lawrence Brothers as a secretary for many years before retiring.

Marion was born Jan. 28, 1917, at a farm northeast of Oregon, the daughter of Earl Wilkinson and Ellen Henrietta (Lingham) Shaw. She and her family moved to the farm near Prophetstown when she was 6 years old, and later moved to Sterling. She married George W. Gronis on June 8, 1940. He preceded her in death on Feb. 6, 1991. She raised her family in a home in the area of Fourth Avenue and 14th Street in Sterling. She enjoyed playing bridge with many of her high school classmates for several years.

Survivors include one daughter, Nancy A. (Ronald) Lenhart of Polo; six grandchildren, Jeffrey A. (Barbara) Lenhart of Emerson, Lisa E. (Randy) Lollar of Loveland, Colo., Julie A. Cullen of St. Charles, Jennifer (Randy) Mattson of Aledo, and Steven (Jennifer) Douglas and Rebecca (Wayne) Ferrenburg, both of Monmouth; 19 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, June Shaw of Rock Falls; three nieces, Pat Mammosser of Rock Falls, Chris Jennings of Sterling and Lauri Aylard of California; and one nephew, Steven Shaw of Colorado.