Marilyn Jane Parkinson, 99, of Baraboo, WI, died on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, following a long illness.
A private graveside service will be held for her family at a later date. She will be buried next to her husband, parents and daughter in Donnellson Cemetery in Donnellson. Baldwin Funeral Services is assisting the family.
Mrs. Parkinson was born on March 12, 1926, on the family farm, east of Donnellson, to Joel W. and Esther (Young) Laws. She attended the Walnut Grove one room schoolhouse, a short distance over the field from their farm. She graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1944 and continued her education at Millikin University in Decatur, receiving a B.S. degree in secretarial science. She completed her degree in just three years so she could marry Robert L. Parkinson. They were united in marriage on Aug. 30, 1947, at the Donnellson Presbyterian Church.
The family lived in Cambridge for twelve years from 1953 to 1965. In 1965, she moved to Baraboo, WI, with her husband and three children, where Mr. Parkinson was hired as the chief historian at Circus World Museum. There, she served for several years as secretary for the director of Circus World Museum and later, volunteered often at the museum and at the Al Ringling Theatre. She was also periodically an officer of Circus World Museum, Inc., the bookkeeper for a local businessman in Baraboo, WI, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Baraboo, WI.
Mrs. Parkinson was a woman of unusual determination and independence. She embodied the expression, “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” She was a faithful wife as well as a loving mother and grandmother. Devoted to her family, she was very intentional about her generosity and how she expressed her love in meaningful and tailor-made ways to those around her.
She is survived by two sons, Greg (Nancy) Parkinson of Baraboo, WI, and Joel (Darla) Parkinson of Alliance, OH; grandchildren, Julie Parkinson, Emily (Ryan) Smith, Aaron (Sherry) Henning, Scott (Cortlynn) Parkinson, John (Sally) Parkinson, Ryan Henning, Becky (Jonathon) Cosgrove, Robert and Michael Parkinson; and 15 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Parkinson was preceded in death by a daughter, Jo Lyn (Parkinson) Henning; sisters, Sarah (Eugene) Gray of Green Valley, AZ, and Jo Ann (John) Noland of Decatur.
