Marx devoted to Quilted Bear, family – Sussex businesswoman never slowed down
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) – Wednesday, November 28, 2001
Author:ANA CABAN, Journal Sentinel staff
Whether helping to run the Quilted Bear restaurant or organizing events for the Sussex Lioness Club, Betty Marx was always busy.
Family came first, though, and last month she attended a reunion in Scottsdale, Ariz., that included at least four generations.
“She said she wanted to live long enough to go to that, and she did,” said Gail Marx, her daughter-in-law.
Marx died of pancreatic cancer Saturday at her home. She was 75.
Marx and her husband, Wilmer, built the popular Quilted Bearrestaurant in Germantown in the early 1980s and recently sold it to a business partner, family members said.
“They have a special every year that they prepare all kinds of wild game,” Gail Marx said. “She was in there helping prepare the food for a couple of days.”
Betty Marx also helped run the Bel Mar Apartments, of which the Marxes were part-owners.
“They built the very first apartment building in Sussex ever,” Gail Marx said.
They also ran a masonry business out of their Sussex home.
“She was pretty busy raising six kids and helping to run the masonry business” and other ventures, her daughter-in-law said.
Marx grew up in Nebraska, where her siblings and cousins played together on their grandparents’ farm.
“We have always been a very close-knit family,” said Joanne Ziegler, her younger sister.
Marx met her husband at a dance in Nebraska when he was stationed there with the Army Air Corps during World War II.
“She said she was going to marry the guy across the dance floor with the blue eyes,” said Marguerite Wallner, her daughter.
The couple married in October 1946 and moved to Wisconsin.
“We always thought Betty was pretty brave to move to Wisconsin and leave her family,” Ziegler said.
In addition to the family businesses, Marx was active in the community, family members said. She was a charter member of the Sussex Lioness Club, where she had held every position and had twice been president, Gail Marx said.
Also, “she worked in the voting poll for the village,” Gail Marx said.
Marx was involved with St. James Catholic Church in Menomonee Falls, where she taught religion classes.
“She organized and ran the carnivals at church,” Wallner said.
Marx had belonged to a neighborhood sewing club for about 40 years and was involved in a bowling league for many years, Wallner said.
She was a big Brewers baseball fan and an avid reader, too, Gail Marx said.
“She was the most sincere, caring and giving person,” she said.
Along with her husband, survivors include four sons, Gene (Gail) and Gregory, both of Sussex , James (Cynthia) of Pewaukee and Richard of Waukesha; two daughters, Marguerite “Peggy” (Kim) Wallner and Janice “Jenny” (Tarry) Zielinski, both of Sussex ; three sisters, Delores (Bill) Beisner of Erie, Colo., Gwen Runge of Denver, and Joanne (Jerry) Ziegler of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and 10 grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m., with a vigil at 7 p.m., at the Schmidt & Bartelt A.A. Schmidt & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, W250-N6505 Highway 164,Sussex .
Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. Friday at St. James Catholic Church, W220-N6588 Town Line Road, Menomonee Falls. Father Gene Doda will officiate. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Memorials to the American Cancer Society or St. James Building Fund were suggested.
Marx, Betty L.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) – Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Marx, Betty L. (Nee Thompson) Of Sussex , Nov. 24, 2001, age 75 years. Beloved wife of Wilmer “Bill”. Loving mother of Gene (Gail), James (Cynthia), Richard, Marguerite “Peggy” (Kim) Wallner, Janice “Jenny” (Tarry) Zielinski and Gregory (special friend Linda) Marx. Dear grandma of Regina, Gennell, Christopher, Davidene, Devin, Chylee, Rachal, Kelly, Meghan and Hannah. Dear sister of Delores (Bill) Beisner, Gwen Runge and Joanne (Jerry) Ziegler. Further survived by other relatives and many friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Fri., Nov. 30 at 11 AM at St. James Catholic Church, W220 N6588 Townline Rd., Menomonee Falls (MEET AT CHURCH). Burial church cemetery. Visitation Thurs., 4-8 PM with a Prayer Service at 7 PM AT THE FUNERAL HOME. Memorials to the American Cancer Society or St. James Building Fund appreciated. Betty was a member and past president of the Sussex Lioness Club and shared business responsibilities with her husband in their Masonry business, the Bel Mar Apartments, and the Quilted BearRestaurant in Germantown. SCHMIDT & BARTELT A.A. Schmidt & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services Hwys. 164 and V V Sussex
Marx, Wilmer V. “Bill”
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) – Sunday, January 12, 2003 Readability:6-8 grade level (Lexile: 1010L)
Marx, Wilmer V. “Bill” Of Sussex . Has gone home to the Lord to be with his wife, Betty on Jan. 8, 2003, age 76 years. Loving father of Gene (Gail), James (Cynthia), Richard, Marguerite “Peggy” (Kim) Wallner, Janice “Jenny” (Tarry) Zielinski and Gregory (special friend Linda) Marx. Dear grandpa of Regina, Gennell, Christopher, Davidene, Devin, Chylee, Rachal, Kelly, Meghan and Hannah. Dear brother-in-law of Delores (Bill) Beisner, Gwen Runge and Joanne (Jerry) Ziegler. Preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Viola (nee Schmidt). Further survived by other relatives and many friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Mon., Jan. 13, 2003 at 11 AM at St. James Catholic Church, W220 N6588 Townline Rd., Menomonee Falls. (MEET AT CHURCH). Burial Church Cemetery. Visitation Sun., 3-7 PM with a Prayer Service at 6:30 PM AT THE FUNERAL HOME. Memorials to St. James Building Fund or the Wisconsin Lions Foundation Camp, Rosholt, WI. Bill was a member and past president of the Sussex Lions Club and a recipient of the Melvin Jones Award. He was owner of Wilmer Marx Masonry, Inc., the Bel Mar Apartments and the Quilted Bear Restaurant in Germantown. He was also a volunteer in the Sussex Fire Dept. for over 35 years. Member of the KC Council 4240 and served on variours boards and committees for the Village of Sussex . SCHMIDT & BARTELT A.A. Schmidt & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services Hw. 164 and V VSussex
Marx co-owned Quilted Bear
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) – Monday, January 13, 2003
Author: KELLY WELLS, kwells@journalsentinel.com, Journal Sentinel
Wilmer Marx, a former co-owner of the popular Germantown restaurant Quilted Bear and a former Village of Sussex trustee, was an enthusiastic sports fan who dedicated much of his time to the community and his family.
“He would just give anything for his children,” his daughter Janice Zielinski said Sunday. “He would help out anybody who needed it.”
Marx died Wednesday. He was 76.
Marx sold his share of Quilted Bear about two years ago, having been a co-owner for about 18 years, Zielinski said. She and her husband, Tarry, held their wedding at the restaurant in 1984, the first of many weddings the restaurant would hold.
Marx owned Wilmer Marx Masonry until about a year ago, when he sold the business to one of his sons. He also owned several apartment buildings.
“He had a really busy life. He was very active,” she said.
Zielinski said that before her mother, Betty, died in November 2001, the couple often would go to Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers games. Marx also sponsored a local adult baseball league team for many years, she said.
Sussex Village President Mike Knapp said Marx served as a trustee in the 1950s and was active on several village committees. Marx also was a volunteer firefighter for more than 35 years.
Marx was active in the Sussex Lions Club, serving as its president in 1965 to 1966, and was a recipient of the club’s Melvin Jones Award. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4240.
Along with Zielinski, Marx is survived by sons Gregory, Gene, James and Richard; and daughter Marguerite Wallner; 10 grandchildren; and three sisters-in-law, Delores Beisner, Gwen Runge and Joanne Ziegler.
A Mass will be said at 11 a.m. today at St. James Catholic Church, W220-N6588 Town Line Road, Menomonee Falls. Burial will be in the church cemetery.