Esther Dwyer

Esther May Dwyer, 99, of Marion, passed away May 2, 2010, at the St. Luke Living Center.

The daughter of Nees Louis and Cora (Penland) Olsen, Esther was born on the family farm in rural Marion on Nov. 24, 1910. She attended Morning Star School and the Kansas School of Cosmetology in Wichita.

She moved to Tonkawa, Okla., to work as manager of a beauty shop and married John H. Dwyer, a career Army man from Syracuse, N.Y., on April 13, 1943, in Tonkawa.

Following John’s return from serving in the Pacific in 1943, they resided in Syracuse, where Esther was employed at the Edwards Department Store beauty salon until 1946. Following a temporary move back to Marion, John reenlisted and was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, where Esther joined him for 18 months.

Following his retirement from the U.S. Army, the couple returned to Marion, to live and become managers of the Elgin Apartments.

John passed away Dec. 29, 1995.

They were members of Holy Family Parish, St. Mark’s Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers, Earl F., Clyde H., and John W. Olsen; and seven sisters, Mabel Matz, Ida Sandwell, Edna Klassen, Florence Perry, Nellie Amick, Gladys Fenske, and Irene Brooks.

Esther is survived by many nieces and nephews.

The funeral was at 2:30 p.m. May 4, at Zeiner Funeral Home, Marion.

Interment was next to her husband in Marion Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to St. Luke Living Center or Holy Family Parish in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm St, Marion KS 66861.