Marlys Van Winkle

Marlys Van Winkle, of Appleton, passed away Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Appleton Area Health at the age of 90.

Memorial services will be held Monday, April 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton. Pastor Gary Mills will officiate and burial will be in the Appleton Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Arrangements are with Zniewski Funeral Home Vaala Chapel in Appleton, MN. www.andersontebeest.com

Marlys Mae Schroeder was born on December 8, 1935, the daughter of Martin and Lydia (Gaulke) Schroeder. She attended rural high school and, during her teenage years, worked at Everts Bakery and Café.

Marlys married Garold Van Winkle on October 8, 1953, at Shible Church in Swift County, Minnesota. They spent their entire lives in the Appleton–Holloway area. In 1957, they began their farming operation. At the same time, Marlys worked full-time at the JC Penney store in Appleton as the main bookkeeper. She enjoyed the retail business and excelled in her bookkeeping position.

Marlys and Garold later opened their own business in Appleton called “His N Her Shoppe.” In the 1970s, they expanded their venture by adding the Ben Franklin Store to their existing business. They closed the store in 1985, and Marlys went on to work at Walmart in Montevideo, Minnesota. She became the head of the ladies’ department, a position she greatly enjoyed until her retirement in the mid 2000s.

Marlys loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, extended family, and many friends. One of her greatest loves was the lake cabin on Battle Lake. She worked hard all week and looked forward to racing to the cabin on Fridays. There, she spent countless hours with her family, enjoying the beauty of the lake and the time spent together. It was her piece of heaven.

Marlys also had a great love for travel, embroidering, baking, reading, and fishing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Lydia Schroeder; sister, Marjorie Huseby; twin brothers who died at birth; and four uncles and seven aunts.

Marlys is survived by her husband Garold; daughters, Susan (Nate) Vander Velde of Dalton, MN and Sherry (Bob) Steinle of Victoria, MN; grandchildren, Shelly (Steve) Schirm, Brady Vander Velde, Nathan (Heidi) Steinle and Amanda (Dan) Gardner; great-grandchildren, Isabel, Landon and Lane Schirm, Julia and Greta Steinle and Eva and Maisie Gardner; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Blessed be the memory of Marlys Mae Van Winkle