Marilyn June (Hawley) Byrnes, age 92 of Mound, formerly of Minneapolis, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at Covenant Living and Rehab in Golden Valley.

(aka "GGB" to her Grandkids and Great-Grandkids, and "Grandma" to her Franklin Students)

Marilyn was born on June 13, 1927 in Minneapolis to Earl and Mildred (Winter) Hawley.  She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science degree and began her teaching career at Whittier Elementary School in Minneapolis.  She married Robert M. Byrnes in 1949 and continued to teach until 1955, when she and her husband started a family.  She resigned from her teaching role in the Minneapolis Public Schools to raise their two children, Debbie and Peter.  During those years she volunteered as a room parent, PTA president, Mother Singers, Girl Scout Leader, and played an active role in the local Cub Scout and Boy Scout Troop in her children's school.  Marilyn returned to the classroom in 1962, again teaching in the MPS district.  She earned a Master of Education Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1975.  After teaching for 30 years, she retired in 1986.  Marilyn taught Grades K-3 at the following elementary schools in South Minneapolis:  Whittier, Irving, Anderson, Madison and Howe.

Marilyn loved teaching and after her retirement she volunteered at Franklin School in Anoka in the Grade 1 classrooms every week for 25 years. She would read to the students and plan lessons about authors and illustrators to instill of love of reading.  She is credited to making them all bookworms!  All the staff and Franklin first graders knew her as "Grandma".

In her retirement, Marilyn kept busy with family, but also was very active in her community.  She was a City of Mound Park Commission Board Member, Vice President of Minneapolis Retired Teachers Association, Westonka School Board Representative to Special School District 287, Senior Center President and Board of Directors, Gillespie Center, Mound MN, founder of City of Mound TRIAD (Seniors in Law Enforcement), and the Leader of "The Pretenders", a senior citizen story theater group.

Marilyn was honored by being chosen Hennepin County Senior of the Year, Mound Chamber of Commerce Senior of the Year, and the University of Minnesota Senior Alumni Homecoming Queen.  She was a precious daughter, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  Marilyn was also an exemplary teacher and volunteer and devoted her life to the service of others, especially children.

In addition to her parents, Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband Robert.  She is survived by her children, Deborah Hagberg (Richard) and Peter Byrnes (Kathryn); 4 grandchildren, Jonathan Hagberg (Jennifer), Jaclyn Zimmer (Robert), Christopher Byrnes (Jenni), and Gregory Byrnes (Anna); and 6 great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Peter Zimmer, Ian Byrnes, Liam and Raea Byrnes, and William Hagberg; along with best friend, June Estelle.

The loves of her life were her family, friends, students and Lake Minnetonka!  Love and gratitude to ALL that enriched Marilyn's life!  We want to give a special thanks to the nursing staff at Covenant Living Skilled Care Center for their friendship and loving care over the past 5 years.

A Private Interment will take place in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.  Due to health and safety concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, A Celebration of Life for Marilyn will be held at a later date.  Details will be announced to family and friends.

Arrangements entrusted to Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home of Anoka (763) 421-0220