Marilyn Eckholm (nee Walshon), 88, a former Oak Park resident, died on Sept. 18, 2015 at her home in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin. Born in Chicago on Nov. 4, 1926, she was the daughter of Henry and Stella Walshon. Her lifelong passion for music led to playing with the Chicago Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of Oak Park-River Forest. The biggest thrill of her musical career was playing at Carnegie Hall with the Windy City String Ensemble when the group took top honors at the New York Youth Orchestra Festival. She was 76 at the time.
After raising her children, Ms. Eckholm was employed as a part-time school bus driver and worked her way up to become director of transportation for Dundee High School and the Ray Graham Association, a real accomplishment for a woman at that time.
She was an enthusiastic participant in life and learned to ski in her 50s, taking many ski trips in the U.S., Canada and Europe. She loved competing in downhill races and also enjoyed traveling with her children. She loved driving to Florida with friends and family and never minded getting lost. She would always say, “It’s an adventure.” Her last big adventure was driving cross-country to Seattle with her daughter.
Her favorite place to visit was the Chain of Lakes in Waupaca, Wisconsin. Her family and her sister’s family, 15 children total, would rent cottages and enjoy the lakes together. This year she celebrated the 50th anniversary of Waupaca vacations with a boat ride and swim along the Chain.
She lived life with passion, gave love to all and stayed curious. Her parting lesson was to show us how to age with grace, good humor, and gratitude for the adventure of life. Her family and friends will miss her love and wisdom.
Marilyn Eckholm is survived by her children, Jackie (David Wilson), Judy, Dale, Pat, Jay (Carol), John (Cindy) and Chris (Kelleigh); her grandchildren, Heather, Matt, Jack, Anna, Leo and Drew; her great-grandchildren, Leah and Evan; and her many nieces, nephews, and friends.
A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24 at noon at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park, followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. Donations in her honor to the Merit School of Music at www.meritmusic.org will help fund Bridges: Partners in Music, which provides school-based music education to students of the Chicago Public School system on the West and South sides of Chicago and in Northwest Indiana.