Alert, inquisitive, wonderfully engaging, and prayerful well into his final hours, Marshall "Wayne" Marx, 90 and long-time resident of Rochester, died Friday morning (Oct 11).

Services will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday (Oct 15) in the chapel at the Madonna Towers Residence (4001 19 ^th Ave. NW) with a reception to follow to honor and celebrate his life.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.  Memorials to the Madonna Towers employee appreciation fund are preferred in honor of their compassionate and loving care.

Marx is remembered as an adventurer, pilot, fisherman, father of six, grandfather, and forever devoted to his spouse, Helen Keane Marx, who died in May 1989. To those who knew him he was feisty, engaging, ironic and especially well known for the magnificent lawns he manicured from 1962 until 2001 when he took residence at Madonna Towers. His enduring faith and devotion were vital and important to him from birth to his final hour.

Wayne was born on February 17, 1923 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He  attended DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis. His remarkable adventures began his senior year 1940, with travel and work adventures on the West Coast, Montana, northern Minnesota, and Alaska before returning to Minneapolis where he was a movie theater manager.

In April 1945, he married the love of his life Helen Keane who preceded him in death in May, 1989. He bought and owned movie theaters in Crosby-Ironton and North Branch learned to fly, bought an airplane and fished with friends and family. In the early 1950s he sold the theaters and moved to Detroit Lakes where he began his career as a salesman. In 1961 the Marx family moved to Rochester, where he was a top performer for ROHAC0, a Minneapolis-based plumbing and heating supply from which he retired in 1988. He moved to Madonna Towers in 2001, where he was especially blessed by the special care and love of his youngest daughter Pauline and enjoyed the companionship of special friend Zoanne Oliphant.

He is survived also by his brother Tom and by sons and daughters: Patrick Marx, Jane Ramey and Jean Marx, Matt Marx, Tim Marx, and Pauline all of whom graduated from Rochester Lourdes High School, and numerous grandchildren and great-grand-children.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com