Marilyn Manion Thies of Hillsborough, NJ, most recently of Tallahassee, FL, passed away on Nov. 7, 2017.
Marilyn was born in 1937 and was the oldest of five children. She was
raised on her parents’ farm on the banks of the St. Joe River, in South
Bend, IN, affectionately known as Manion Canyon. As a child, she and her family traveled throughout the Midwest showing their Arabian horses.
She graduated from Washington Clay High School in 1955, Georgetown Visitation Junior College in 1957 and St. Mary’s College in 1959.
Marilyn taught fifth grade at Christ the King School
in South Bend and then spent a year in Tiquisate,
Guatemala teaching English for the United Fruit
Company. For many years thereafter, she worked for
the Manion Forum, where she wrote for the Manion
Forum Newsletter.
During the 1960s, Marilyn was active in Republican
politics. She was twice elected Delegate to the IN
Republican Convention and was also elected to the
National Board of Directors and served as national
secretary for Young Americans for Freedom. In 1964,
she traveled the country giving speeches in support of
Barry Goldwater for President.
As a homemaker, she volunteered her time at the
Natural History museums in New York City and
Cleveland, Ohio and later applied her writing talents at
several public relations positions. After she and her
husband retired they traveled the world together.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents,
Clarence Manion and Virginia O’Brien Manion as well
her husband, Thomas William Thies. She is survived
by her son Charles (Elizabeth) of Tallahassee, FL,
daughter Virginia Spicka (James) of Waukesha, WI,
as well as three grandchildren: Anderson and Annika
Thies and Paige Spicka. Other survivors include
siblings Carolyn (Peter) Butler of Wilton, CT, Daniel
(Ann) Manion of South Bend, IN, Diana (David)
Woodhead of Carmel, CA, and Christopher (Theresa)
Manion of Front Royal, VA, as well as 19 nieces and
nephews.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday,
Dec. 2nd at Christ the King Church, South Bend,
IN. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be
made to St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN. Online
condolences may be left at www.kaniewski.com
