Marlys Rae Trunkhill, 77, of Sturgeon Bay, WI, passed away on January 6th, 2017, at Scandia Village in Sister Bay.  She was born October 29th, 1939, in Evansville, WI to Jinks and Gertrude Trunkhill.  Marlys received her undergraduate degree from Milton College in vocal performance.  She received her master's degree in Opera Theatre from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.

While touring with choirs, like the Robert Shaw Chorale, she met William Wiederanders and they married. While married they were a part of a musical project that had never been carried on in this country before. At Holy Trinity Church in Central Park West, where Marlys had been lead soprano for years, she and her husband Bill were part of a vocal quartet that prepared a different Bach Cantata to be performed every Sunday for a year as part of the Lutheran Vesper Service, similar to how the original Bach cantatas were performed. It was also during this period of time that their children Seth and Sharon were born in Connecticut where Bill was employed as care taker at a prominent NY publishing company's summer retreat. 

Following some changes in the free-lance scene of NY, Marlys and family moved to DePere, WI where Marlys was employed as an instructor of voice at the Univ. of Wisconsin - Green Bay.   During this time, she met Paul Klapatch and their son Jonah was born.  She later married Paul Klapatch in 1981.  After not having made tenure at UWGB, Marlys became employed as a weekend counselor at Golden House. She then worked as volunteer coordinator at Help of Door County.  Later on, she took a position with Door County Social Services, working there until her retirement.

After she retired, Marlys started and completed a two year degree for a Spiritual Director with the Racine Dominican Sisters.  After the death of her son Jonah, she continued and intensified her time with the National Alliance of Door County and the new mental health resource center called "JAK's Place ".  She continued to volunteer as a co-president of NAMI DC for the following ten years.

She is survived by her husband Paul Klapatch, son Seth Wiederanders (and his significant other, Jenny Blue), Sturgeon Bay; her daughter Sharon (Sean Vanriette) Wiederanders, two grandchildren Ezra and Margot Vanriette, Sean's children Michael and Hannah Vanriette, all of Kansas, MO; in-laws, Duane Moen, Patrick and Chris Klapatch, James Klapatch and significant other Kathy Oram, Peter Klapatch and significant other Kim Werner, Joseph Klapatch and partner Michael Jinbo, Barbara and Randy  Fondow, Elizabeth and Steve Spaude, Mary and Robert Nickel, along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son Jonah, sister Joanne Moen, and brother Richard Trunkhill.

Memorial services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 27th, 2017, at Hope United Church of Christ (141 N. 12th Ave. Sturgeon Bay, WI).   Visitation will be that morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.  Forbes Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Special thanks from the family goes out to the ICU staff at Door Ministry, the staff at Scandia Village Nursing Home, and staff from Unity Hospice.

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