Marilyn Bludau Marikle passed away Friday, August 5, 2011, in a Goodyear, AZ hospital at the age of 63 after a 3 week battle with pneumonia. Marilyn was born September 12, 1947 in Hallettsville, Texas, to Joseph "Jodie" Bludau, Jr. and Alice Sobotik Bludau. She graduated from Sacred Heart School, received an associate's degree from Victoria College and worked for the State of Texas until her retirement. She married Peter Marikle September 19, 1998. They lived near Denver Colorado until 2004, when they moved to Arizona for lower altitudes and more benign winters.

Marilyn had deeply shared Christ's Passion throughout her life, with serious lung problems since her 13th month of life, bouts with polio that resulted in daily pain, and countless hospitalizations for brutal-asthma exacerbations. Yet she loved life and took thankful joy in the beauty of God's creation and most especially in her family and her mom's great care for her. Her smile could light the darkest room or saddest heart.

She is survived by her husband, Peter Marikle of Goodyear AZ; mother, Alice Bludau, of Hallettsville; step daughter, Elizabeth Sharpee and husband Mike, step grandchildren, Eve, Jonathon, and Joseph Sharpee of Amarillo; stepsons, Jon and Sean. She is also survived by sisters Virginia Korenek and husband, John of Garwood; Alice "Dolly" Johnson and husband Macklin, Donna Nevlud and husband, Mark, brothers Joseph Bludau III and Robert "Bobby" Bludau. Sr., and wife Carol all of Hallettsville, sister-in-law, Rosemary Espinosa and husband, Bill of Burke, VA and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father Joseph B. Bludau, Jr., brother, Charles E. Bludau, and step grandchild, Veronica Sharpee.

Funeral Mass Service: 10 am, Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 4 pm, Thursday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Rosary: 7 pm, Thursday, at Kubena Funeral Home. Officiate: Rev. John Peters. Pallbearers (nephews): John Korenek Jr., Joseph Bludau IV, Jason Bludau, Clinton Johnson, Jared Christian, and Robert "Bobby" Bludau, Jr. Memorials: Sacred Heart Catholic Parish or School. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.