Marion Wignes

Marion Florence (DeRoode) Wignes was born March 11, 1932, in Ghent to Theodore and Mary (Dero) DeRoode. She was baptized, confirmed, and married in St. Eloi Catholic Chruch. Marion received her elementary education at St. Eloi Catholic School and graduated from Marshall High School in 1949. On March 25, 1951 she married Marcus L. Wignes. They had 3 children: Brenda, John, and Robert (Fuzzy). Marion and Marc were in the food business for 30 plus years in Ghent. It started with the Basement Café. In the middle 50’s they purchased the drugstore and gas station from Mickey Bot, and in 1980 they bought a building and café from Lee and Joe VandenBerghe. In the years between, Marion was a bookkeeper at Lyon County Farm Service, a salad cook at the old Marshall Hotel Café, a cook at St. Eloi School, and she waitressed at Chuck’s Corner, Club 59, and Ted’s Bar. Marion served as mayor of Ghent from 1976-1982, was a life-long member of St. Eloi’s CCW, a charter member of the Ghent American Legion Auxiliary Unit 564, and a tireless leader of Belgian American Days for 30 years. She was especially proud of Ghent’s centennial celebration in 1980. Her greatest enjoyment was time spent with family and friends and especially her grandchildren and great-grandsons. Marion was also a foster grandparent with Head Start for 6 years. She had a deep love for her country and the city of Ghent. Marion died Thursday, July 22, 2010, at Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall. She is preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, 2 brothers “Bumper” and John DeRoode, sister-in-law Alice DeRoode, brother-in-law Rollie Byrne, niece Sheila Illies, and 2 nephews Steven & JoJo Byrne. Survivors include her husband of nearly 60 years, Marc, daughter Brenda (Doug) Swoboda, sons John (Darla) Wignes, Fuzzy (Shawna) Wignes, 6 grandchildren Bree (Scott) Anderson, Chad, Cade, Shaina Jo Wignes, Chris (Laura) Swoboda, and Nikki Swoboda, 2 great-grandsons Carter & Logan Anderson, sister Nellie Byrne, brother Ted (Nancy) DeRoode, sisters-in-law Alverna & Clara DeRoode, and many nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.