Marilyn Joan Jirsa

Marilyn Joan Jirsa, 88, of La Crosse, died on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at the Bethany Riverside Care Center. She was born on July 30, 1929 in La Crosse to Reinhart and Verna (Olson) Emery. Marilyn was a 1947 graduate of Central High School. She married John “Red” Jirsa on October 16, 1948. He preceded her in death in 1986. Marilyn had worked as an Accounts Payable Manager at Doerflingers until its closing. Marilyn was a devoted mother, sister and grandmother. She loved the Green Bay Packers and enjoyed knitting, baking Christmas cookies, dancing, dogs, and was an avid reader.

She is survived by four children, Bob (Peggy) Jirsa, Jerry (Susi) Jirsa, Susie Jirsa, and David Jirsa, eleven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, four brothers, Richard Emery, William (Joan) Emery, Donald (Sharon) Emery, and Tom Emery, many nieces and nephews, a brother-in-law Gene (Sharon) Jirsa, and a sister-in-law Betty Jirsa. In addition to her husband Red, she was preceded in death by a son Thomas “TJ” Jirsa, a brother Robert Emery, and a son-in-law Mark Henningsgaard.