Marcia Aten

Growing up, her family moved extensively, living in Michigan, Oklahoma, Chicago, and Pittsburgh. Marcia was a 1968 graduate of Kalamazoo College where she studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. On Dec. 27, 1969, she married Avery John Aten in her parents’ home in Palatine, IL. She received her Masters in Social Work from University of Michigan in 1974 and was a social worker at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids and then at Child and Family Services in Alpena. Marcia helped develop the Day 1 Child Abuse Prevention program with Alpena Regional Medical Center, and Alpena County Health Department. She was very involved in her church, Re-Member trips to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and civic passions, including League of Women Voters and the inter-faith group Building Bridges. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, adventuring across the US with her two daughters, and coordinating the fair trade SERRV bazaar at First Congregational UCC. She traveled to Spain, India, Germany, Russia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Marcia was preceded in death by her parents, Rex and Marilyn Wingard, and her older brother Michael Wingard. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Avery Aten; her two daughters, Hilary Aten (Dave Strausz) of Seattle and Emily (Drew) Rochon of Milwaukee; five beloved grandchildren, Bayley (Mike) Busse, Jennifer and Grace Rochon, and Samuel and Mari Strausz; two brothers, John (Kathy) Wingard and Jim (Karen) Wingard; her sister-in-law Helen Wingard; and many loved in-law’s, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Family and friends are invited to gather in celebration of Marcia’s life at the First Congregational UCC fellowship hall, 201 S Second Ave, July 5 from 2-5 p.m., or later at the Aten residence, 311 S Second Ave 5-7 PM. A memorial service at Milwaukee’s Plymouth UCC will take place in late September. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to League of Women Voters or Re-Member.org.