Sunday, June 20, 2010

Obituary: Marion L. Heiden, former WHBL Story Lady and Elkhart Lake Library Director

From the June 20 Sheboygan Press.

Marion L. Heiden, age 88, of Elkhart Lake, WI, passed away Friday afternoon, June 18, 2010, at Sheboygan Memorial Hospital.

She was born March 29, 1922 in Sheboygan, a daughter of the late Dr. Harry and Amanda (Vick) Heiden.

Marion attended the College of William and Mary in Wlliamsburg, VA, and graduated from UW Madison with a BA degree in Speech. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta social sorority and Zeta Phi Eta speech sorority.

Upon completing college Marion joined radio station WHBL, where she hosted a daily classical music program and a children's story program, becoming known as the WHBL Story Lady. During this time, she also became widely known for her dramatic book reviews, appearing before many local and state clubs and organizations.

Leaving the field of radio, Miss Heiden began another career in library work, becoming the children's librarian at the Oconomowoc Public Library for a number of years.

Retiring from her position in Oconomowoc, Marion became a resident of Elkhart Lake, where she again entered the library field as the Director of the Elkhart Lake Public Library for fourteen years.

Marion was a member of Community United Church of Christ in Elkhart Lake.

Following her career at the library, she was a docent at the Wade House and also at the Plymouth Arts Center.

During the years, Marion travelled extensively in the United States and abroad.

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