Marianne Van Drisse

Marianne Van Drisse passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 7, 2026. Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on March 9, 1924, she was the only child of Joseph and Sarah Van Drisse.

All who knew her benefitted from her kindness and her knowledge. She made it a point throughout her life to share advice, books, and articles that might help those around her. Her encouragement and support for friends and family never wavered. Deeply aware of the importance of family ties, history, and heritage, she lived with a wonderful sense of humor, grace, and style, becoming a cherished part of so many lives.

The first twenty-nine years of Marianne’s life were spent in service with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, followed by thirty years as manager of a charitable trust. She taught high school students in St. Louis, Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Her teaching career culminated in her return to Green Bay, where she taught and served in administration at St. Joseph’s Academy. She later left this vocation to personally care for her aging mother, Sarah, devoting full and loving attention to her until her passing.

Marianne served on the boards of trustees for Our Lady of Charity Center, The Catholic Foundation, Sacred Heart Seminary, the American Foundation of Counseling, and St. Norbert College. St. Norbert College awarded her the President’s Medal in 1998 in recognition of her professional, public, and personal contributions. In 1996 she was invited to become a member of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre by Most Reverend Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago. She also provided leadership as president of the Catholic Women’s Club and was a co-founding member of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation. Her involvement extended to the Heritage Hill Foundation, Serra Club, Green Bay Symphony Board and Guild, Lac Baie Girl Scout Council, the Humanitarian Committee of the Fort Howard Paper Company Foundation, and the boards of HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center.

Marianne found great joy in working at Paul’s Pantry, reading, and especially traveling. One of her most transformative experiences was participating in an archaeological dig in Jerusalem in 1968, where she was moved by the resiliency of Israelis and Arabs working side by side near the sites of the Six-Day War. She traveled the world with close friends, gathering rich experiences and vivid memories. She often recalled with laughter her early days substituting as a kindergarten teacher for more than sixty students. In 2001, St. Norbert College conferred an honorary degree upon her, and in 2005 awarded her the Distinguished Service Award. Marianne believed education opened her appreciation for the vastness of the world and instilled in her an enduring eagerness to learn. She hoped that in her years of teaching she had inspired her students to explore, study, and absorb as much of our God-given world as possible.

Marianne will be deeply missed by her many family members, friends, and their families.