Marilynn Janet Derwenskus

Marilynn Derwenskus was born on December 23, 1937 in Detroit, MI. She passed away peacefully at home in Franklin, TN on July 24, 2026 wearing an entirely purple outfit.

She lived 88 extraordinary years, filling the world with beauty, kindness, and creativity. An artist through and through, Marilynn touched countless lives through her paintings, her teaching and the many friendships she cherished within the artist community. She was Professor Emeritus of Painting upon her retirement from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She earned her MFA from the University of Chicago years after completing her MA degree from Wayne State in Detroit. She was dedicated to art always sketching, painting, or teaching. In true Marilynn fashion, she completed her final painting and submitted it to the Nashville Art Guild show the day before she passed.

Above all, Marilynn was devoted to her family. She was a loving mother to Scott (Hiromi), Kurt (Sandy), and Joy; a beloved sister to Edward (Dottie) and a proud and adoring grandmother to her eight grandchildren (Dior, Daly, Ellie, Megan, Paige, Matthew, Ella Grace, and Will). She was preceded in death by her husband Willy and parents, Ella and Marvin Segowski. Her love, encouragement, and zest will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Marilynn’s life was made so much richer by the incredible friendships she built over the years. She had friends and colleagues all over the country and world after teaching at various art centers, doing workshops, serving on the board of organizations like the Michigan Watercolor Society, Watercolor USA, etc. Thank you to all for being a part of her journey, for celebrating her art, and for sharing the joy she brought to so many.

Continue to remember Marilynn with the same warmth, color, and creativity that she shared so generously with the world.

The Celebration of Life Service will be held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Franklin, TN on Saturday, September 12 at 11 am. In honor of Marilynn’s vibrant spirit and lifelong passion for art, we are planning an artistic celebration filled with purple, her favorite color.

Guests are asked to wear something purple if possible.

10:30 am – Visitation

11 am – Celebration of Life Service

12 pm – Luncheon at St. Andrew

For those unable to attend, a livestream option is available at the link below. Click the link to go to the church webpage, then click on the gold button to the right “Watch Service Live”

https://saintandrewchurch.com/ 

It will also be available later to watch at: https://www.youtube.com/@st.andrewlutheranchurchfra6561 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support Marilynn’s ongoing student art award for the Muncie Art Students’ League. Checks can be made out to Kurt Derwenskus with “Marilynn Derwenskus Art Award Fund” in the memo line. This fund continues her legacy of encouraging emerging artists.

“Art is life, life is art.”