Marianne Helgeson Gjertson
December 30, 1933 – April 25, 2026
Marianne was born Dec. 30, 1933, in Friendship, Wisconsin, to Lizette L. Krenz and Herbert A. Helgeson and died April 25, 2026.
She grew up in Omro and Iola, Wisconsin, graduating from Iola High School in 1951. After attending Wisconsin State University – Oshkosh for a year, she began her nursing school studies at Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and graduated in 1955 as a registered nurse.
Marianne married William G. Gjertson on Sept. 24, 1955, and they began a lifetime of adventure. They had three children, Jill Alayne (Steven Brown), Jo Alison, and William Geoffrey (Geoff) (Germaine). Because of Bill’s career in aerospace, they moved many times, and Marianne was able to work as an RN in Kwajalein, Marshall Islands; Huntsville, Alabama; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Plano, Texas; Danville, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Seattle, Washington.
Wanting to try something new, she then pursued her love of interior design for 17 years in two design showrooms in Seattle. A colleague described Marianne’s style, attention to detail, and care for her family as her most wonderful qualities. She had a beautiful and joyful spirit.
Her most precious achievement was her children, but she and Bill also loved travel, cross-country skiing, fine dining, and the fine arts. Over the years, they visited Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Norway, Scotland, England, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, the South Pacific, Canada, and Mexico – and of course, every state in the U.S.
She is survived by her three children; six grandchildren: Alayne (Charles) Brunner, Yale (Onur) Demirak, Todd (Ellen) Brown, Liv (Stephen) Stavredes, Alexandra (Derek) Brondum, and Elise Gjertson; and seven great-grandchildren, Grace and Gabrielle Brunner, Calliope Brown, Axel and Tristan Demirak, and Cora and Reina Stavredes; and sister, Janice Dosch. As per her wishes, there will be no memorial services.
