Marion Genskow Griswold

Marion Ruth Genskow Griswold entered this life on October 12, 1930, and passed on to the next on January 25, 2026. She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Richard King Griswold, her daughter Leslie Dawn Griswold Bishop, and brothers Roy Donald, Harvey Dean, and Jack Kuenne Genskow. Her daughter Kim Marie Griswold Gardner, son Dean Bradley Griswold, and grandchildren Megan Marie Bishop, Jesse Dean Bishop, Nathan James Bishop, Molly Jean Bishop, Graham Calame Griswold, and Cicely Marie Griswold all miss her tremendously. She never had a chance to meet her first great grandchild, Vivien Rose Bishop.

It is impossible to condense ninety-five years into a few paragraphs, but there are some thoughts and memories that her descendants thought were the most important to them.

Marion enjoyed traveling and had fond memories of adventures in China, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, England, Bahamas, Canada, Mexico, and elsewhere. This curiosity was nurtured when she was young by her father’s “Travel and Adventure” lectures held for years in the auditorium of Shorewood High School (Wisconsin). Her traveling was extended within the United States, having been to all 50 states. During the first 14 years of her marriage, she and her husband moved 16 times. A grandchild commented that she was amazed that there was hardly a college or university she hadn’t heard of.

As a lover of the arts, especially interior design, tole painting, quilting, she also supported that passion in others. Another of these was the opera; her favorite was Lucia di Lammermoor. Once, she was in a production of Aida put on by Utah Opera, waving a palm frond. It was a sad day when her hearing diminished significantly and she had to give up listening to operas on her stereo.

While in college, she studied home economics and nutrition, so she was always adamant that her children and grandchildren would drink orange juice daily to get vitamin C. Her grandchildren say she “plagued” them with the need to avoid scurvy on every visit. Often she would remind everyone of the nutrients they were getting from various foods.

She loved to read and kept a book in progress as long as she was able. She loved mysteries. When her eyesight finally failed her, she enjoyed hearing others read to her. Listening to television was important, too. Even a week before passing, she asked what was going on in the world. Exceptionally fond of Rachel Maddow, she used to excuse herself from the dinner table by saying she had "a date with Rachel." An active volunteer most of her life, she took to heart her mother's message of the importance, after making sure your family is secure, of giving back to the community what you can. From the time she was first able to vote, she voted in every single election, general or special. Her most impressive skill may have been her ability to engage in conversation and draw others into a delightful exchange. She was always eager to use her life experiences and travels to make personal connections with new people.

When the Pastor visited her a few days before she died, she told him about how much she loved Jesus and her church. In addition to this love, she said her most cherished possession was her memories. Her family misses her and has been amazed by the huge hole she left. We are sure that the family members that have gone on ahead of her were waiting to encourage her as she took that final step into eternity. She was ready to go.