Marlys D. Buelow, 75, passed away on December 15, 2025. A memorial service will be held on April 18, 2026, at 1:30 PM at Grace Episcopal Church in Galena, IL, followed by a reception at DeSoto House Hotel, Galena. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Galena. The Furlong Funeral Chapel in Galena is assisting the family.
Marlys was born May 20, 1950, in Dubuque, IA, the oldest child of Carol Deane Buelow (Horsley), affectionately known as “Crabby”, and Herbert John Buelow Sr. Marlys grew up in and around Galena, IL. The family moved to Rockford, IL, when she was in high school. Marlys considered Galena her hometown and returned often. She graduated from Rockford East High School in 1968 and from Western Illinois University in 1971 with a degree in Psychology. She later returned to WIU to complete her master’s degree in psychology, graduating in 1981.
She worked as a mental health practitioner in Champaign-Urbana, IL, becoming a Director at Champaign County Mental Health Center and later at Prairie Center. Marlys was dedicated to her family, was very generous, going out of her way to attend events and holidays in Rockford. She was deeply connected and kept in touch with lifelong friends from grade school, high school, college, and her work colleagues.
Marlys was thoughtful, smart, and funny. She enjoyed a quiet life; her nickname was Mole or Moley. She had an excellent sense of humor, entertaining friends and family with funny stories, jokes, and Galena colloquialisms. She was a sucker for good puns and often included them in her texts. Marlys loved music and created multiple playlists of her favorite performers. She played the guitar and dulcimer, and enjoyed singing Christmas carols with her family, especially harmonizing with Crabby. She loved being in nature, tending a fire pit, swimming, and traveling all over the US, Mexico, and once to Europe. Interests included watching her favorite football teams on TV, reading books recommended by good friends, and learning about science, especially medicine, physics, and astronomy. In her younger years, she enjoyed camping and doing her own car repairs.
She is survived by her wife of 25 years, Lorraine K. Metcalf, along with stepchildren Cora Obuchowski (Ben Burns) and Rebecca Obuchowski, grandchildren Zarek and Emmett Burns. Also survived by sister Denise Burton (Donald), brother Michael Buelow, and sister-in-law Karen Buelow (Levey). Also survived by sisters-in-law Carol Sebald, Janice Buelow, and Julia Buelow. Nephews and nieces include John Buelow (Nicole), David Buelow (Danielle), and Joseph Buelow (Melissa), Isabella Buelow, Kassandra Nepean (Joseph), Alexandra Whittaker (Stephen), Kaitlynn Buelow (Cody Dricker), and Abbigale Gee (Alec), along with multiple great-nephews, great-nieces, and many extended family members.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Herbert Buelow Jr, Steven Buelow, James Buelow, and brother-in-law Donald Burton