Marldene I. (Rubscha) Dunham

Cadillac -Marldene Ida (Rubscha) Dunham passed away on November 12, 2025 in Cadillac surrounded by family. She was 100 years old.

Marldene was born in Kankakee Illinois to Emile and Ida (Tremblay) Scheppler. She was the youngest of eight children. She lived her life in Illinois, New York and Michigan. She was a long-time member of St Ann Catholic Church of Cadillac.  Marldene retired from the former Mercy Hospital of Cadillac.  She was the schedule coordinator for 17 years.  Marldene loved painting pictures, working with flowers and reading books. She was an avid polka dancer who was known to dance with any available partner.
 
On February 4, 1956 she married Edward J Rubscha who died in 1973. On September 15,1984 she married Loren C Dunham who died in 2013. She was preceded in death by her sons, Daniel Crowe in 2017 and JD Dunham in 2024.

She is survived by two daughters, Rose (Dan) Whaley of Cadillac and Mary (Kent) Cherry of Davison, Michigan; two sons, Patrick and Michael Crowe of Grand Rapids; two step-children, Jerry (Sue) Dunham of Cadillac, Linda (Scott) Sartorius of Texas; grandchildren, Cory (Kelsey Gembala) Whaley, Ashley (Becca) Spalo-Whaley, Dan (Tabetha) Whaley, Nick Cherry, Tyler (Celene) Cherry, Scott (Mya) Dunham, Kevin (Molly) Dunham, Carter (Jenny) Dunham and Matt (Kelsey) Dunham; multiple great-grandchildren.  Special thanks for the care given by Judy Finazzi, Lyn Hughes and Hospice of Michigan.
 
Visitation for friends and family will be held at the Hitesman-Holdship Funeral Home on Monday, November 17,2025 from 4pm until 7 pm with a Rosary prayed at 6:30pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 11 am at St Ann Catholic Church in Cadillac, officiating will be Rev. Michael Janowski. Visitation will be one hour prior to the Mass at the church. Marldene will be laid to rest at Mt. Carmel Catholic Cemetery following the mass. A luncheon will be provided at St Ann’s Parish.  Monetary donations may be made to St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Cadillac.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.Hitesman-Holdship.com   The family is being served by the Hitesman-Holdship Funeral Home.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marldene I. (Rubscha) Dunham, please visit our floral store.