Marjorie A. Best

Ashland, WI – Marjorie A. Best, 95, formerly of Lake Summerset, IL, died on May 29, 2026 in Ashland, WI at Tamarack Hospital following a brief illness, with her daughters holding her hands, while listening to her favorite spiritual music. She lived with her daughter Denise and son-in-law Craig Mutchler in Brule WI after selling her home at Lake Summerset in 2021.

She was born on July 25, 1930 in Laona, WI to Anton and Mary (Schultz) Schmutzer. She grew up and went to school in Hayward, WI, home of the Hayward Hurricanes. Following HS she attended college in Duluth, MN and business school in Minneapolis , MN. Marjorie worked for Sieg Illinois Auto Parts for 27 years, retiring in 1992.

Marjorie was blessed to have been married to two wonderful husbands. She was married to J. Chris Price on June 20th of 1952 and he passed on November 23, 1992. Her second marriage was to Nevin Best on May 6, 1995. He passed on January 21, 2010.

Faith, family and friends were most important in her life. She loved supporting her grandchildren in all of their many activities and she also enjoyed hosting the family gatherings. Chocolate chip cookies, pies, and other treats were readily available at her home and they were all baked with love.

Marjorie was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Durand, IL for 20+ years. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, traveling, bingo, bocci ball, and playing cards with family and friends. Her retirement years at Lake Summerset were very active. Dance was another passion in her life, from ballroom dancing to the Big Band Era to 30+ years square dancing. She was a very active member of 2 square dance clubs during that time holding many officer positions.

She is survived by her daughters, Denise (Craig) Mutchler of Brule, WI and Annette (Jeff) Blascoe of Pecatonica, IL. Her legacy includes her grandchildren Ryan (Lisa) Mutchler of Beaverton, OR; Jordan (Lesley) Mutchler of Polo, IL; and Nikolas (Melissa) Blascoe of Waterford, WI; Great-grandchildren, Emmitt, Remy, and Beckett. Marjorie is also survived by son-in-law, Dan Sturtevant of Freeport, IL as well as many loving nieces and nephews. Mutchler’s fur babies, Kimber and Teddy, were her close companions in her final years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands and her daughter, Michelle Sturtevant; her sisters, Lynn Tweedale and Mary Wickland and her brother, Gene Schmutzer.

A special thank you to the “Up North” family and the ICU staff at Tamarack Hospital in Ashland, WI.

Visitation is Friday, June 19, 2026 from 9:30 to 10:30 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Durand,IL. Funeral Mass will immediately follow at 10:30 also at St. Mary’s Church. Her burial will be next to Chris at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, in Freeport, IL.

The family is grateful for the compassionate assistance from Michelle at Daughenbaugh Funeral Home – Dakota, Illinois.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.walkermortuary.com.