Rochester, NY- Marlene Alta (Bailey) Cloninger, 87, went to be with her loved ones in heaven on October 1, 2020.  She lived many years in Minnesota, was a long-time resident of Ishpeming, Michigan and lived the last few years in the Rochester, New York area.  She was born on June 6, 1933 in Byron, Minnesota.  She married Daniel Cloninger on January 1, 1950 in Wirt, Minnesota.  They had six children and were married 56 yrs.

Beloved by her children, in-laws and grandchildren, Marlene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  She had a way of making every person in the family feel loved and special, and was a loyal, lifelong friend to many.  Marlene was a woman of faith and enjoyed helping others.  She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

Marlene endured hardships with grace and opened her heart to everyone she met.  Christmas was a magical time for family, because of her cooking, baking and handmade gifts; all filled with love.  She also enjoyed making wedding and birthday cakes for her family and others, loved camping with her family, playing games, and traveling, especially enjoying her trips to Hawaii and Alaska.  Her various talents included playing the piano, singing, cooking, cake decorating, quilting, painting, and creating crafts.  She loved children and was one of the first women school bus drivers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Cloninger, her mother, Dorothy Bailey, her father, Howard Bailey, and her brothers, Wayne Bailey, Ronnie Bailey, and Jack Bailey.  She is survived by her children, David (Peggy Gravedoni) Cloninger of Nampa, ID, Debra (Bradley) Homeier of Walpole, MA, Mark (Corliss Pangborn) Cloninger of Rochester, NY, Charles (Linda Sundberg) Cloninger of Greenleaf, WI, Connie (Mark) Greig of Wasilla, AK , Paul Cloninger of Rochester, NY; her grandchildren Christa (Chris Conkle) Cloninger, Cheri Cloninger, Nicole (Alex Toker) Homeier, Mark Homeier, Amy Cloninger, Andrew (Mary Luffman) Cloninger, Brian (Cassandra Close) Cloninger, Bethany Cloninger, Jeff (Blair Rathjen) Cloninger, Christy Cloninger, Adriane Greig, Robert (Cynthia Adams) Greig, Abigail Greig; and her great-grandchildren Gabriel Homeier-Toker, Leyla Homeier-Toker, Isaac Cloninger, Eliana Cloninger, Immanuel Cloninger, Abel Cloninger, Clara Rathjen-Cloninger, Riley Rathjen-Cloninger, Noah Cloninger, Markus Greig and Daniel Greig.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a private family service will be held. Interment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens.

Marlene's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.