Marilyn McAlpine

Marilyn McAlpine passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on August 31st, after a courageous battle with a rare form of cancer.

Marilyn was born on July 10, 1938, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, to Paul and Genevieve Blotz. She was the oldest of eight children. She attended St. Joseph Elementary School and Mineral Point High School, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Stout with a degree in Home Economics. Marilyn dedicated her career to educating and serving others. She began as a University of Minnesota Extension 4-H educator in Ramsey County before moving into freelance promotion of Minnesota food products for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Marketing Division. She later became widely recognized as a home economist and spokesperson for the Minnesota Turkey Research and Promotion Council, where she was affectionately known as the “Turkey Lady.”

For more than twenty years, Marilyn was a familiar face at the Minnesota State Fair, where she conducted cooking demonstrations, developed recipes, and promoted turkey as a healthy and versatile food. She authored the Turkey Foodservice Manual, a valuable resource for the foodservice industry, and created innovative educational materials, including children’s activity kits that introduced elementary students to the turkey industry through engaging lessons and hands-on activities.

Throughout her distinguished career, Marilyn received numerous honors recognizing her leadership and contributions to agriculture, food education, and the turkey industry, including the Minnesota Poultry Award, the Southeastern Poultry Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Turkey Federation, and recognition as Home Economist of the Year by Twin Cities Home Economists in Business.

Outside of her professional life, Marilyn’s greatest joy was her family. She loved preparing meals, canning, gardening, and sharing her knowledge with others. Music was also an important part of her life; she sang in high school, college, and church choirs. It was through church that she met the love of her life, Leo McAlpine, whom she shared many wonderful years of marriage. They were blessed with three children: Julia, Stephen, and Megan.

Marilyn was a faithful member of the St. Michael’s Council of Catholic Women, Twin Cities Home Economists in Business, and the Retired Agricultural Men and Women organization. She will be remembered for her deep Catholic faith, generous spirit, unwavering dedication to education, and the love and knowledge she shared with everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leo McAlpine; brother, James Blotz; sisters, Sharon Rock, Patricia Blotz, and Colleen Watters; and sister-in-law, Charlene Blotz.

She is lovingly survived by her brothers, Michael Blotz, Jack Blotz, and Tim Blotz (Laura Jean); sister-in-law, Mary Blotz; brother-in-law, Richard Rock; children, Julia Fern (Rick), Stephen, and Megan Gerard (Joseph); and cherished grandchildren, Gabriel and Benjamin Fern, and Alexandra, Samuel, Augustin, Machai, Sophia, and Azalia Gerard; along with many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, colleagues, and dear friends, with special mention of her lifelong friends, Marilyn Wegge & family and Marion Felhofer.

Mom always admonished us to wash our hands, say our prayers, and feed the unexpected guest—so make a turkey!

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Michael Education Endowment, Options for Women, Worldwide Marriage Encounter, or Sharing & Caring Hands.

Visitation will be held from 5:00–7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8th at Simonet Funeral Home, 6429 Osgood Ave N, Stillwater, MN, with additional visitation one hour prior to the 11:30 a.m. Mass on September 9th at the Church of St. Michael, 611 3rd St. S, Stillwater, MN. A luncheon will follow the Mass. Interment at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Bayport.