Marilyn Kucer, age 78, died November 12, 2023, at St. Anthony Home, Crown Point, Indiana. She was born November 21, 1944, the daughter of Joseph and Irene Kucer of Hammond, Indiana.

Marilyn graduated from Hammond High School in 1962 and went on to St. Mary of the Woods College where she graduated in 1966. She began her career as a newspaper reporter at the former Milwaukee Sentinel.  This was a challenging era for women to work in journalism, yet Marilyn was well-respected for her adherence to the highest standards in journalism.  Some of her proudest moments in her career were the opportunities to report on Pope John II's visit to the United States in 1979 and the release of the US hostages by the Iranians in January 1981.  For the Iranian hostage story, she was sent to Wiesbaden, Germany, because the youngest hostage, Kevin Hermening, was from Wisconsin.

Marilyn was a dear and loyal friend to many in Wisconsin.  Marilyn wrote a feature story for the Milwaukee Sentinel about the changing role of "friends" in the burgeoning mobile society of America.  In the story, she wrote about her own personal  experience of leaving her family in Indiana to live in Wisconsin and how for her and others in the same situation, new and supportive bonds of "family" were formed with friends and co-workers.  It was a delightful story and as usual, Marilyn approached it with her unbiased journalistic principles.

Marilyn loved horseback riding with close friends in Wisconsin, often going on trail rides throughout the Wisconsin countryside.  She especially enjoyed crisp autumn morning rides when the leaves were turning yellow and falling along the trail.

Marilyn's interest also included travel.  She especially enjoyed her travels to the former Soviet Union with the University of Wisconsin Study Tour where she visited Moscow, Leningrad, and Tallinn, Estonia.  Her parents toured with the same organization the year before.  Both tours were under the leadership of Dr. Charles Ward, professor of Slavic Languages and Literature at UW-Milwaukee.  She was also known for her culinary skills and her impeccable taste in home decor and design.  She was very proud of her Ukrainian Orthodox Catholic heritage.

Marilyn left her home in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and her editorial position at the now merged Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, in which she played a pivotal role in facilitating the merger, to return to her home area in Munster Indiana to help care for her mother.  In Munster, she continued her journalism career as an editor at the Times of Northwest Indiana, where she remained until her retirement.

Marilyn is survived by her brother, Dennis Kucer of Highland, Indiana, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins including Marty Kessler of Lodi, Wisconsin, Kris and Jerry Dombrowski of Schererville, Indiana, and Joe and Patti Gurnak of Dyer, Indiana. She shared a special bond with her godson, David Drury Allen of Encino, California.

Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, at Solan-Pruzin Funeral Home, 14 Kennedy Avenue, Schererville, IN.  A Funeral Service will be held at 6:45 PM with Fr. Steven Koplinka officiating. Burial private.