Marian Travis

Marian M. (Kaszas) Travis, born in South Bend, IN and a long time Plymouth resident, died of natural causes in Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie, Indiana, on Saturday morning, February 17, 2018. She was 3 months shy of her 88th birthday.

A very giving, caring person with a great sense of humor, Marian was a devoted, loving and proud wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Born in South Bend, Indiana, on May 28, 1930, Marian was the daughter of Steven F. and Elizabeth Ann Kaszas, who came to the U.S. from Hungary as children.

She graduated from South Bend Central High School with the class of 1949 where she proudly twirled her baton with the marching band. She went on to graduate from Indiana University South Bend and worked as a Laboratory Technician at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN and then in Plymouth, IN at Parkview Hospital.

On June 9, 1951, in the First United Methodist Church in South Bend, Donald (Don) K. Travis and Marian M. Kaszas were married. Married to a University of Notre Dame double graduate, she was an avid Notre Dame supporter and football fan!

She served the Plymouth community and family for countless hours as a dedicated civic volunteer, caregiver/homemaker, Welcome Wagon Greeter, Delegate to State Conventions, President of the Marshall County Hospital Auxiliary, Red Cross Volunteer, Tri-Kappa President, Vice President of the Parent/Teacher Association, Camp Fire Girls Volunteer and in many other volunteer civic leadership and member roles.

A member of the First United Methodist Church of Plymouth, Marian had served within several committees and organizations as well as taught Sunday School. She loved listening to her Daughter, Nancy Jo, sing solos in church and with the church choir.

Marian was very artistic and could draw well and paint. She would be known to create family heirlooms with her artistic talents. She was also talented in baking and decorating, cooking, sewing and ceramics. Many will remember receiving her decorated cakes and kieflies as gifts.

Marian took pleasure from helping construct the family cottage at Lake of the Woods; the same lake where her father and grandfather built that lake’s first cottage where she spent many happy hours in her youth.

She loved being with her grandson, Travis and his wife Mindy and was proud of all of their accomplishments. She was thrilled and overwhelmed with love and pride in recently becoming a Great-Grandmother to her Great-Grandson, Bryant Travis Coles.

Marian is survived by her daughter, Nancy Jo L. Travis Coles, Grandson, Travis R. Coles, Granddaughter in-law, Dr. Mindy C. Wallpe and Great-Grandson, Bryant Travis Coles, all of Yorktown, IN. Also, nieces and nephews.

Marian was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Donald K. Travis, parents, sister, Betty Mackin and brother, Bob Kaszas.

Friends are invited to visit and celebrate Marian’s life with her family on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 North Michigan Street, Plymouth, Indiana 46563. Tri Kappa will hold a Memorial Tribute for Marian beginning at 4:00 PM.

Funeral services for Marian will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at the funeral home, with Rev. Charles Krieg officiating.

Burial will follow in New Oak Hill Cemetery, Plymouth.

Memorial gifts in Marian’s memory may be made to the Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 400 North Michigan Street, Plymouth, Indiana 46563, Marian M. Travis Memorial Fund.