Marlene Gudrun (née Kargard) Dietrich, of Mokena, Illinois, was called to her eternal rest in the arms of Christ on November 10, 2023 at the age of 83. Loving wife of the late Rev. Adam A. Dietrich, beloved daughter of the late Thorvald and Signe Kargard, devoted mother of the late Mark Dietrich, Ruth Dietrich, Paul Dietrich, Ann Dietrich, Mary (Jerel) Fortkamp, and Joel (Alicia) Dietrich, beloved grandmother to Bill (Kendra) Theodosopoulos, Adam Theodosopoulos, Joshua Dietrich, Andrew Fortkamp, Sophie Fortkamp, Aaron Dietrich, Luke Dietrich, and cherished great-grandmother to Jack Theodosopoulos, and Thor Dietrich. Marlene was also privileged to be a loving and devout Baptismal sponsor to Tom Machamer.

Marlene was born on July 25, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois. She was baptized, confirmed, and met the love of her life Adam at Hyde Park Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois. They would be married in 1959 at Saint James Lutheran Church, on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She attended Saint Paul Lutheran School, Chicago (Dorchester), IL, Luther High School South, Chicago, Illinois and Valparaiso University, in Valparaiso, IN. She lived the vast majority of her life in Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs while following her husband Adam as he worked in Flint Michigan, studied at Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL, served his vicarage year in Ottawa, Canada, and served at First Lutheran Church of the Trinity, Chicago, Illinois, Luther High School South, Chicago, Illinois, and various congregations throughout the area especially at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hodgkins, Illinois.

Marlene was once a model and member of the Screen Actors Guild, briefly studied at Valparaiso University, earned her PhD (Putting Husband through Divinity) at Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois, was a homemaker for her husband and six children, volunteering at Zion Lutheran School, Summit, Illinois, where she began their hot lunch program, Saint Paul Lutheran School, Oak Lawn, Illinois, where she volunteered as a librarian, Luther High School South, Chicago, Illinois and other congregations her husband served. Marlene was also a Sunday School teacher, Altar Guild member, bulletin folder, and mimeograph machine helper extraordinaire.

Marlene is preceded in death by her parents Thorvald and Signe Kargard, husband Adam A. Dietrich, son Mark Dietrich, and daughter in law Cynthia Dietrich.

Marlene was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her family and even larger extended family.

A committal service will be held on Monday November 13, 2023 for close family and friends at Bethania Lutheran Cemetery, Justice, Illinois.

Memorials may be sent to the family for designation.