Marian E. Carraway

Marian Carraway, 95, formerly of Grafton, Wisconsin, and Fort Myers, Florida, died July 10, 2023, in Lehigh Acres, Florida.

Marian was born Sep 8, 1927, on the family farm in Grafton to William Hennings and Hattie (nee Oberheu) Hennings. She graduated Grafton High School in 1944 and married Taft Carraway of Captiva Island, Florida, in 1949. Marian was an outstanding chef, working at several restaurants in Ozaukee County throughout her career: the Grafton Hotel, the Club Riverside, Mequon, and the Port Hotel. Later, she cooked privately for the Oppenheimer family of Fort Myers Beach, FL.

She was an active member of St. John Lutheran Church, Lakefield, and served as that congregation’s first woman church council president. After moving to Florida, she became a founding member of Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers. She loved singing in the church choir and was instrumental in helping both congregations acquire pipe organs.

Marian’s home was always filled with music. She taught herself to play the harmonica and accordion. Before she was robbed of much of her eyesight, she enjoyed to read and do crossword and cryptoquip puzzles. She forever remained a diehard Wisconsin Badger and Green Bay Packer fan. In her retirement years, she loved to entertain friends and family visiting from Wisconsin, and never missed a “happy hour.”

Besides her parents, Marian is preceded in death by her husband, Taft, in 1979; her son, Mike Carraway, in 2005; sisters Marcie Hornslein Conrad and Norma (Elmer) Viesselmann; and grandson, Jason Carraway.

Marian is survived by her daughter, Becky, and son-in-law, Trevor Peacock, of Fort Myers; granddaughter, Michelle Peacock, of Omaha, NE; grandchildren, Rachel (Chris Hayes), David, and John Carraway of Rhode Island; three great grandchildren in Rhode Island; and several very special nieces and nephews in Wisconsin and Colorado.

A memorial service for Marian will be held at St. John Lutheran Church, Lakefield, in Grafton on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 2:00 PM. There will be a visitation starting at 1:00 PM till service time. Burial will be at the church cemetery immediately following the service. Memorials in Marian’s name may be sent to St. John Lutheran Church or Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL are appreciated.