Marianne (Griesel) Denny

Marianne (Griesel) Denny was born April 6, 1933, the third of seven living children, to LeRoy and Liane (Meeker) Griesel, at home southeast of Pawnee, OK. She was the granddaughter of Will (Effie Cox) Griesel and Charles Calvin (Elsie Aldridge) Meeker, all of rural Pawnee. She passed into eternity June 29, 2026 at Pawnee having reached the age of 93 years.Marianne spent her primary training at Prosperity Rural School, SE of Pawnee, and secondary education at Pawnee High School, graduating with the class of 1950. Her algebra tutoring helped many a lagging classmate and caught the attention of her “forever sweetheart,” John William “Bill” Denny, whom she married on May 27, 1951 at her parents home.Her first job was as a bank teller to fill Lloyd Perrine's place at the old First National Bank of Pawnee while he was gone to war. When he returned from the service, she gave him his bank job back. She later became secretary for Judge Edwin McNeill at the Pawnee County Court House. Bill and Marianne spent twenty years in Cleveland, OK, during the 60's and 70's raising their children. As a family they ran the Mistletoe and Magic Express, Speed-A-Way Station, and Coke distribution. Following a stint with Cleveland Public Schools as a bus driver and play ground monitor, in 1974 Marianne went to work for the Cleveland American. She was the Women's Editor and office manager. Bill's promotion with Coke and an empty nest they moved to the one-room schoolhouse, where Marianne had gone to school, and made it their home for the next thirty years. They also operated a cattle and buffalo ranch. Their last home was in Pawnee proper where they could be close to the care from family.Marianne marveled that her four grandparents' families made the Land Run and that her great-grandchildren are 7th generation Pawnee Countians. She led rank for her sisters Marjorie and Peggy in writing for their respective newspapers a weekly column of rural life during and following the Great Depression in comparison to modern times.

The following is from GRANDMA'S CORNER by Marianne Denny in her weekly column in the Cleveland American published February 21, 1996. (original text in italic)

Grandma's 'most favoritest' scripture is the passage Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 which contains

“To everything there is a season...,” for each of the seasons fits a particular time in Grandma's life.

“A time to be born and a time to die” brings extreme happiness as a baby enters the world and sadness as our loved ones and close acquaintances depart from this world.

Bill and Marianne had five children: Michael William, Deborah, Marijudie, Dianna, and Timothy. Marianne was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 66 years, Bill; children Michael Wm., Marijudie, and Tim; infant twin brothers; brothers Phillip Griesel and Bill Griesel; sisters Marjorie Buchanan and Nancy Burnes and son-in-law Robert Derruisseaux.

“A time to plant...” is a delightful time of year after the cold winter and the long days trapped inside the house. Grandma can get out and dig around in the garden, pick up trash from the fence rows, search for jonquils and crocus breaking through the lawn, and prepare the soil for onion sets, potatoes and other seed purchased at the garden center.

“A time to pluck...” includes the fresh crisp spears of asparagus and leaves of lettuce, but it also may mean feathers from a feisty red rooster that is feeling the effect of springtime, too.

“A time to kill...” includes the time a Tonka truck was mistakenly shot, believing it was a skunk in the sand pile. Well! Nighttime shadows can play tricks on you! You just wait and see!

“...and a time to dance” is anytime Grandma gets a lively record on the Victrola. “Tijuana Brass” and “Skating Time” are two favorites.

“A time to tear down and a time to build...”

Her life work and play were that of tearing down and building up. For over 22 years weekly at the Cleveland American newspaper she did just that before computers. This verse also applied at home with her hobby of making quilts and potholders.

“A time to weep...”

A child of the Great Depression, Marianne faced many hardships. One example was having the family farm seized by the government after the war. Marianne also wept for the passing of two infant children, her adult son and her beloved husband.

“...and a time to laugh” can't be often enough, for laughter is good medicine.

But one thing that remained to the end was Marianne's sense of humor, faith, and strong constitution. Singing, playing the piano and laughter were her cadence. Marianne sang acapella and harmony with her four sisters while gathering the milk cows. She also had an innate ability to catch a rhythm: whether a machine, train, or voice, she would break out in a song to match the beat. Then good laughter ensued.Marianne was active in her community. She followed her grandmother and mother into Pandora Home Demonstration Club at the age of eighteen. She later joined clubs including Vida de Casa Extension Homemakers, Cleveland and New Horizons Oklahoma Home and Community Education, Maramec for a total of 75 years. Other civic groups included Business and Professional Woman's Group, Cleveland and P.E.O. Chapter H, Pawnee.Until her death, she faithfully attended the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ of Pawnee, where four generations of her family had attended and where she accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized at age 12.Those mourning her passing are daughters Deborah Derruisseaux, Dianna (Dennis) Walker, Grandchildren Rob Lynn (Staci) Derruisseaux, Jr, Jenet (Jerry) Keller, Michael (Crystal) Walker, Dena Walker and Rachelle Denny. Sisters Peggy Goodrich, Effie (Jim) Medford, and sisters-in-law Kay Griesel and Judy Griesel. Her Denny 'sisters' Sylvia Kennedy, Cathy Mills, Iva Jean Butler, Karen Marshall and Billye Jo Denny. Plus a 'clan' of great- and great-great grandchildren, many other family, friends, and Brothers and Sisters in Christ.Services have been entrusted to Poteet Funeral Home, Pawnee,OK. Interment Highland Cemetery, Pawnee, OK.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, Pawnee, OK.