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Obituary for Marley Ryan Tauscher


Marley Ryan Tauscher, age 14, of West Salem, was received into the arms of her earthly and heavenly fathers on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse as the result of a watercraft accident. In her short time on earth, Marley pursued her personal mantra, to “live my best life.” Marley (a/k/a Marles, Mar, Marbar, Markey, MR) did just that with a big personality that rivaled the glow and size of the sun. She had a contagious laugh that made all around her laugh too, and spent her free time doing the things she loved: dancing; starring in photo shoots with friends; snapchatting; and late-night facetimes. She also enjoyed hanging out with her big sister Macey even more than she enjoyed taunting her. Her staple snacks were Takis and salt and vinegar chips, and there were many trips to Starbucks and Chipotle. Marley also loved shopping, and was blessed with a keen eye for great sneakers and “fits.” She would often give her mom unsolicited advice on her outfits as well (“bruh”). She would spend hours designing her personalized sneakers, an obsession we blame on her Godfather, Tony Hart. Marley surrounded herself with music and was a skilled DJ at home and in the car, and seemed to know every lyric to every song she played. Her nighttime routine was to blast music in the shower and sing at the top of her lungs, no matter who was sleeping or what hour of the day it happened to be. When doing this Marley was often “Chasin’ her Pesos.” Marley loved soccer and adventure. On the pitch, few could rival her speed, agility, skill, and tenacity. “She was a young lady you always wanted to cheer for and a difference-maker on every team she graced”. She will forever be our #2. Off the pitch, Marley was one part city and one part country, and was always scheming the next escapade. She had a tough exterior, maturity, and fearlessness that made her wise beyond her years. Marley appreciated the beauty in life, be it the gorgeous sunsets that blessed her days, or the love and dedication of her diverse friendships. She likely would have loved sunrises as well, but she generally chose instead to remain in her cozy, LED-lit cocoon until late into the mornings. She was loyal with a heart of gold, genuine, and unapologetically herself. She was a light in darkness and touched the hearts of all who knew her. She also loved God, and declared Him her Savior when confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bangor on May 16, 2021. Marley was witty and funny; described as a “little whipper snapper who never missed a beat.” She found it hilarious to take pictures–sometimes extreme close-ups–of people doing normal human behaviors. Sorry Coach, you were once caught sitting “funny” on the soccer bus. Marley would often break into a laughing wheeze at her pictures and jokes, as clearly she was the funniest person she knew. Marley was spunky, with a little sass. You could never win an argument with Marley. Her memory was like a steel trap for little details, and would frequently blow your position out of the water. She had a gift for presenting unique points and counter-arguments, a skill that would have made her a great public defender. For sport, Marley enjoyed arguing with her mother, and she was darn good at it. For all of Marley’s loves, she did dislike a few things. She disliked dishes, laundry, pulling weeds, and feeding her chickens. Thank you to Grandma Vickie for taking these off her plate for the last five years. She also disliked winter, which led to one of her goals, namely to live anywhere without a winter season. Additional goals were to play collegiate soccer, to become a criminal psychologist, and to travel. Marley was preceded in death by her father, Ryan F. Tauscher. She is survived by her mother, Dawn M. Tauscher; her sister, Macey L. Tauscher; her grandparents Fred and Vickie Tauscher of Bangor, Sandra (Robert) Groski of Tomah, and Thomas Hughart of Tomah; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church in Bangor. Rev. Brock Groth will officiate. Burial will be in Burns Cemetery. A celebration of Marley will be from Noon to 4 at the West Salem Lions Club Shelter (bring a lawn chair). A visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home, Hwy 162 and Hattan St., Bangor, and from 10:00 a.m., until the time of service, Wednesday, at the church.