Archived Services

Marlene Diane Anawski
07-01-2021

Marlene Diane (Fisher) Anawski passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 1st at Sanford Hospital from heart failure. 

Marlene was born on January 13, 1941 to Adna and Gertrude (Engen) Fisher in Fort Snelling, MN. When she was young the family moved to Mobridge, SD where she grew up. She attended and graduated from Mobridge High School in 1959. She then moved to Sioux Falls, SD. She lived in Sioux Falls for a few years until she met the love of her life Stephen Joseph Anawski in 1968. Marlene and Stephen were married in September 1972. They had three amazing children. 

After Steve's death in 1987, she went back to school to get her degree in Computer Programming from Southeast Technical Institute. She then worked for many years with Western Surety until retirement. She never remarried, always saying she only had one love in her life. After retirement she took great joy in caring for her mother, Gertrude for several years. She and her youngest son, Thomas were able to spend a great deal of time caring for and playing cards with Grandma Gert until her passing in 2002. Eventually Marlene moved in with her daughter Stefani where the two fought and laughed like old bitty best friends. She was cared for by Stefani for many years until moving into the Estelline Nursing and Care Center. The children of Marlene would like to express their sincere thanks and love for the Estelline Nursing and Care Center staff who treated mom like family. 

Marlene was always known for her kindness and generous heart. She was always willing to help anyone in need in any way that she could. She could make friends with anyone. She could be standing in line at the grocery store with a complete stranger and they would be friends by the time they left the store. She loved playing BINGO, dancing to Neil Diamond and enjoyed time with family and friends. She especially enjoyed fishing on the Missouri river with her brothers and sister. She beamed with joy as she went through life and always made it a point to put a smile on someone's face. She will be known for cracking a good joke and had a profound knack for being bluntly honest, even if it was maybe not in the best way. You always knew where you stood with her even if you didn't want to. Her grandchildren were the lights of her life and she loved playing cards and dice with them whenever she could.

Grateful for having shared her life were her three children: Stefani Clapsaddle of Mitchell, SD; Mark (Kelli) Anawski of Brookings, SD; and Thomas Anawski of Sioux Falls, SD. Her grandchildren Kelsey Clapsaddle (Kelly Matteson), Ethan Clapsaddle and Logan Clapsaddle, Jasmine and Stephen Anawski and Kelynn and Judson Anawski. Her great-granddaughter Madalynn Marlene Matteson. Her brother Jeff (Bonnie) Fisher of Aberdeen, SD as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Adna and Gertrude Fisher; her loving husband of 15 years Stephen Joseph Anawski; her siblings, baby James, Thomas Fisher, Delano Fisher and Claudette (Fisher) Christiansen; her parents-in-law, Stephen and Frances Anawski and her sister-in-law, Carol Anawski along with many aunts, uncles.

Visitation will be Monday, July 12, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be Tuesday, July 13, 10:30 AM at Faith Lutheran Church, 601 North Cliff Avenue, Sioux Falls, on the corner of 4th Street and Cliff Avenue.