Marsha Ann Tautges

Marsha Tautges, a 54-year-old resident of Little Falls, died Thursday, January 12, 2012, surrounded by love and family, after a long painful illness recently diagnosed as cancer. A memorial service will be held at Emblom Brenny Funeral Home in Little Falls on Saturday, January 21 at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Marsha was born on January 31, 1957 in Litchfield, MN to the late Herbert and Janet Kaping. She grew up on dairy farms in Minnesota and Illinois, the beloved and bossy eldest child of six children. In 1975, she married Frank O'Leary. They had two children together (Jana and Tim) and later divorced. In 1985, she married the late James Tautges. They had three children together (Mada, Sarah, and Emma) and later divorced. She met and was spending her life with companion Dan Wolfe. To Marsha, her most important role was mother -- and later grandmother -- roles she fulfilled so well. Until her illness, Marsha worked as a nursing assistant, going above and beyond in providing care, comfort, and compassion to others. Marsha enjoyed spending time with family and friends, particularly her grandkids, as well as rummage sale shopping, cooking, spoiling her dogs, reading, watching MSNBC and debating politics, sewing and crafting, camping, and going for motorcycle rides with Dan. Left to cherish her memory are her companion Dan Wolfe (Little Falls); her children and their families: Jana (Stacy) Sullivan (Blaine, MN), Tim (Chrissy) O'Leary (Suffolk, VA), Mada Tautges (Blaine, MN), Sarah (John) Oldenburg (Milaca, MN), and Emma Tautges (Blaine, MN); grandchildren: Aventine Sullivan, Ashton and Nolan O'Leary, James Heckman, and Hope Ollum; her stepchildren and their families Edi Kelley, Patrick O'Leary, Jesse Wolfe, and Ryan Wolfe; her best friend and sister Carolle Oldenburg; her other siblings and their relatives Kim Kerns, Sam Kaping, Herbert Kaping, and Garrett Kaping; and many relatives and friends. Marsha was preceded in death by her parents and her late former husband James Tautges. She will be forever loved and missed.