Marianne Louise Kettler

Marianne Louise Kettler passed away June 26, 2015 in Flemington, New Jersey, with her husband and daughter holding her tightly. She was 71.

Marianne was born April 6, 1944 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to the late Shirley and John Slagboom; President of Slagboom Tool and Die, Corporation. Never one to simply watch life pass her by, Marianne’s first career was that of an American Airlines Stewardess, fueling her itch to see the world which she did often bringing her to 5 of the 7 continents and including trips to Egypt, Brazil, Hong Kong, Japan, Hungary, and as a witness to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Immediately prior to moving to New Jersey, Marianne lived in Alexandria, Virginia, where her only child was born and where Marianne found her calling for bringing people together in the name of a good time for a good cause, organizing several memorable Washington, DC benefit gala events at embassies.

For nearly 40 years, Marianne has been an integral and treasured part of the lives of those in Hunterdon County and far beyond. For 30 of those years, Marianne was the owner of Kettler & Kettler Employment Services, Inc., the largest and oldest employment agency in Hunterdon County employing tens of thousands. An active member of the Republican Party, Marianne served as a Republican County Committee Woman until 2014. Marianne was instrumental in saving, from the wrecking ball, The Oak Summit School in Kingwood TWP, considered to be the last remaining un-altered one-room school house in New Jersey; and in organizing the Roy Clark Cancer Society Benefit Concert at the Flemington Fair Grounds: “Carl, you know Roy Clark, don’t you? Let’s have a benefit concert.”

Marianne led and organized, with her husband, the effort to successfully stop construction of a proposed 300-acre regional garbage dump in Hunterdon County, flying in Academy Award winning actors and other notable figures for a fundraising event the likes of which Hunterdon County has likely not seen since.

An avid animal lover, Marianne organized Josh Day to honor the local Newfoundland canine that won the Westminster Kennel Club, Best in Show, with proceeds going to benefit local animal rescue organizations. Most recently, Marianne revitalized the Old Whitehouse-General Frelinghuysen-Colonel Lowrey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, traveling to Continental Congress in Washington, DC with several Chapter sisters to include her daughter. Everything Marianne did she did humbly and with sincerity, love, compassion, generosity, and an undeterred enthusiasm.

She remains the wife of Carl, the mommy of Heidi, and the Oma of Maxwell and Adeline. She is missed by all who were graced by her presence and serves as an example the rest of us can only aspire to.

A private burial at Prospect Hill Cemetery will be held July 11, 2015 with a public reception following at Copper Hill Country Club at 1 pm. If so inclined, we welcome you to RSVP to the reception and share memorable stories: heidikettler@hotmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the ASPCA or other animal welfare organization.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ.