Marilyn Jane Hoppenrath

Marilyn J. Hoppenrath

July 13, 1928 - August 31, 2023

Marilyn Jane Hoppenrath died peacefully in her sleep at The Barrington of Carmel due to fall related complications.  For five weeks after her fall she was lovingly taken care of by her two daughters and her caregivers.  Her son visited with her via facetime daily from his residence in Sidney, Australia.  Her goal was to make it to the age of 95 and she was so happy she did.  In her eyes that was a true accomplishment.

Marilyn was born in New Albany, Indiana to Herman L Lindemann and Jane K (Shrader) Lindemann.

Her only sibling Welman, passed away in 1991.  She graduated from New Albany High School and went to Indiana University in Bloomington where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.  She earned a four four-year bachelor bachelor's degree in Psychology and met her fellow student and later husband, William R Bone of Ft. Wayne.  After graduation they married and moved to Portland Oregon.  In 1950 Steven R was born and in 1953 Barbara J was born.  She got “homesick” for Indiana, so they moved back and settled in Indianapolis.

In January of 1962 she married her second husband, Robert F Waddell.  She became the stepmother to Robert’s two children:  Lynne Waddell Arnold (now deceased) and R Scott Waddell who is living with his wife, Kathy, in Ft. Meyers Florida.  In July of 1963 they gave birth to their only child, Kathy Marie Waddell (Brown). 

Steve and his former wife, Marsha Bone Knight, gave Marilyn her first grandchild, Erin Louise Bone (Tharpe).  Erin and her only son, Jordan Lee Woods, presently reside in Rineyville, Kentucky.

Barbara and her husband, Craig Murray, gave Marilyn two granddaughters, Mindy Murray (Marchand) and Kasey Murray.  Mindy and her husband Stephane gave Marilyn two great grandchildren:  Juliette Marchand and Luca Marchand.  All reside in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Kathy married Jim Brown and gave Marilyn four grandsons:  Jimmy, Joey, Johnny and Jake.

Marilyn’s great grandchildren from them include:  James, Andrew, Emma and Jackson from Jimmy and his wife Michelle.  Mabel, Thompson and Janie (due in December) from Joey and his wife Maria.

Audree from Johnny and his wife Allison and Scottie from Jake and his wife Ellie.  All the Browns live in the Carmel, Indiana area.

Marilyn married William W Hoppenrath in 2004 giving her three additional stepchildren:  Susan, Wesley and Theresa.  She became a widow after Bill passed away in 2013.

Marilyn never wanted to work outside the home.  Her love for her children and stepchildren was one of her top priorities and she was blessed with the opportunity to devote herself to their needs blending them together, with God’s grace, to produce a very successful family bond throughout the years.  Marilyn loved the Lord and was so thankful for her family and friends.  She always kept up to date with all the activities everyone had and was so proud of all their accomplishments.  She always said in her later years she lived vicariously through her families’ experiences.  She enjoyed eating out and developed many special friendships with her servers. 

Our family is extremely grateful to her devoted caregivers whom Marilyn loved deeply.  Regina Perkins and Beth Little are like family and have been with us for many years.  We love them and thank God for them!

Marilyn read the daily devotion from the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young every night before she went to bed.

The words of His truth on each page always encouraged her and gave her comfort, peace and hope.

This was the devotion on July 27th, the day she fell.

“HOPE IS A GOLDEN CORD connecting you to heaven.  This cord helps you hold your head high, even when multiple trials are buffeting you.  I never leave your side, and I never let go of your hand.  But without the cord of hope, your head may slump, and your feet may shuffle as you journey uphill with me.  Hope lifts your perspective from your weary feet to the glorious view you can see from the high road.  You are reminded that the road we’re traveling together is ultimately a highway to heaven.  When you consider this radiant destination, the roughness or smoothness of the road ahead becomes much less significant.  I am training you to hold in your heart a dual focus:  My continual presence and the hope of heaven.”

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Marilyn found great comfort in God’s truth, and she wanted others to experience it too. 

She handed out multiple copies of this book to encourage others in God’s great love for them. 

As you read this message of hope, the Lord so graciously gave her on July 27^th, you can see…

GOD’S TIMING IS PERFECT!

HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS and

HIS PRESENCE NEVER LEAVES US!

He was with her every step of the way encouraging her with His love every day!

Mom can no longer gift a copy of this book, so she leaves us her testimony of His loving faithfulness on her journey home.  Until we meet again mom, we love you dearly and miss you deeply!

There will be no formal service.  A family celebration of her life will be held at Marilyn’s request. 

She will be cremated, and her urn interred at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Indianapolis.  Rather than send memorial flowers, Marilyn and her family would greatly appreciate your contributions to the local charity, “In Business for Life, Inc.” 12400 N. Meridian St. Suite 150, Carmel, Indiana  46032-6990.

This organization, created by Marilyn’s nephew Brad Lindemann, matches unwanted newborns who escaped abortion with families wishing to adopt them.