Marcella Aronson

Marcella Edith Larson Aronson, age 95, a long-time resident of Afton, Minnesota and recent resident of Hudson, WI passed peacefully with her family by her side at the Christian Community Home in Hudson, Wisconsin on September 5, 2020.

Marcie, the only child of Raymond & Edith (Forsman) Larson was born March 20, 1925 in St. Paul, Minnesota. She attended elementary school in St. Paul and graduated from University High School on the University of Minnesota campus in 1942. Marcie earned a degree in Education at the University of Minnesota, where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and was chosen as the university “Engineer Days Queen” in 1944.

On the day following her graduation from college, June 15, 1946, Marcie was united in marriage with a handsome young Naval officer from St. Paul named Chester C. Aronson, Jr. who flew home from Pearl Harbor for the wedding.

The newly married couple first resided on a naval base in Rhode Island where Lt. (J.G.) Aronson was stationed. After Chet’s discharge from the Navy the young couple returned to St. Paul, first residing with Marcie’s parents as post war living quarters were not abundantly available. In 1949 the young couple along with their first child, Steve, moved into a little G.I. house in Minneapolis. Having experienced the scarcity of post-war housing first-hand, the couple were co-founders of a successful telephone marketing business that matched renters with landlords. Craigslist, 1940s style!

They sold the advertising business when Chet graduated from the U of Minnesota and began his career with Travelers Insurance, while Marcie began her teaching career as a substitute teacher in the Minneapolis school district. In 1950, daughter Christine joined the family. In 1953, the family moved to Richfield where Marcie was a substitute teacher. In 1955 son Robert was born, followed by daughter Victoria Ann in 1957.

In 1963 the family moved into their newly built home in Afton Hills over-looking the St. Croix river valley. New neighbors became life-long friends.

Shortly thereafter, in 1964 tragedy struck as 6 ½ year old daughter Vicky was taken in an accident. The following year, a grief-stricken Marcie took the helm of daughter Vicky’s kindergarten class in the Afton-Lakeland School district. She taught there until the end of her formal employment 19 years later. During her tenure she was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” by the Stillwater School District.

But Marcie never “retired” from teaching. She loved children and she especially loved to teach children to read. It was her gift and she shared it in many, many ways. She authored a book featuring her various teaching techniques and at age 90+ tutored a young boy in reading.

Marcie was a strong person of deep passions and deep faith, who forever sought and shared knowledge in many ways and places. She was a long-time teacher, but she was also a lifetime learner. A voracious reader, Marcie challenged herself to expand her mind and spirit through books.

Her faith was foremost in her life. She was always seeking God’s lessons and sharing with those she loved. When asked what she considered her greatest accomplishment, Marcie said it was bringing her children to the Lord. “Faith in my home, My finest Inheritance.”

Marcie loved to travel to both new and old places. Of the old places, her favorite was a rustic lake shore cabin built by her parents on Lake Superior’s south shore near Cornucopia, Wisconsin. She loved family time there with her parents, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends as well as her “alone” time there reading, reflecting, writing, and time spent just “listening” to the lake.

The new places were trips to Europe, including a 1970 holiday season stop in Italy to see daughter Chris who studied at the University of Florence and in later years, to attend theatrical performances of son Bob. Other trips to her ancestral homeland of Sweden were topped only by a dream cruise on the Crystal Harmony.

In the early 1970’s, Chet and Marcie bought condos on International Valley Country Club near Padre Island in Brownsville, Texas and wintered there. The entire family visited there and enjoyed those reprieves from the northern winters. Ever learning and growing, Marcie started a “fun” jewelry business back in Afton from her trips to the markets of Matamoras, Mexico. Later in retirement they sold the Texas properties and “went south” to Dauphin Island, Alabama. Friends and family were always invited and welcome for “sun and fun”.

Marcie was very much a part of her church community and taught Sunday school for many years at her church homes of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and Memorial Lutheran Church in Afton, Mn.

Marcie and Chet were together active in their Cursillo community “Renewal Group”. She valued their friendships with the Le family from Viet Nam and the Castillo family from Nicaragua. She also played the role of mother to AFS son Carlos from Argentina, who lived in their home 1971-1972.

Marcie is survived by her son, Steve (Nancy) Aronson of Afton, Mn. and daughter, Chris (Dean) Vaughn of Marshalltown, Iowa, 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents in 1973, her husband Chet in 2014, son Robert Aronson in 2015, and her 6-year-old daughter, Vicky in 1964.

Marcie was a beautiful person in so many ways, but most of all “She was a beautiful spirit with an enthusiasm for Christ”. May she rest in Peace.

Interment services for Marcie will be held by her family on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at the Evergreen Cemetery in Afton, Minnesota.

Please join the family in a celebration of Marcie's life Saturday, September 11 at 11:30 AM at MEMORIAL LUTHERAN OF AFTON (15730 Afton Boulevard S) with visitation one hour prior.

Memorials in Marcie’s honor have been established at

Memorial Lutheran Church                                                     Lakeview Homecare and Hospice