Marlyss Arlene Harger, age 91, of Rice Lake, WI, died Friday, June 19, 2026 in Rice Lake, WI. She was born on October 8, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois to Werner and Irma (Miller) Rohde.

Marlyss graduated from High School in Chicago and was later married to Burton Harger on June 20, 1959 in Lombard, Illinois. Marlyss was a homemaker, church secretary for several churches, a secretary for a sales firm and a school secretary. They moved to several cities and states where he was a Lutheran Minister in Hillsboro, Illinois; Sterling Heights, Michigan; Brooklyn, Michigan; Wales, Wisconsin; Mount Vernon, Iowa and the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cedar Lake Township.

She was active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and Immanuel Lutheran Church since 1993. She enjoyed working on puzzles, playing cards, cooking, canning, wintering in Texas, pontoon rides on the lake and being with her family. She was a loving, warm, never met a stranger, pleasing, social, cheerful, faithful and a very honest woman.

She is survived by her husband, Rev. Burton Harger; 4 sons, Jonathan (Cheryl) Harger, Mark (Mary Fran) Harger, Steven (Rachel) Harger and Timothy (Portia) Harger; 11 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Werner and Irma Rohde; and a brother, William (Margaret) Rohde.

Funeral Services will be held at 11AM Friday, June 26, 2026 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cedar Lake Township, WI, Rev. John Erickson officiating, with interment in the Cedar Lake Cemetery in Rice Lake, WI.

Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the Funeral Service at the Church on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to the Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League.

Last Update: Jun 22, 2026 9:25 am CDT