Marion A. Ackley

Marion A. Ackley, 101, of Moline, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Friendship Manor, Rock Island. 

Honoring Marion's wishes, there will be a private burial including military honors conducted by Moline American Legion Post #246, at Rock Island National Cemetery, under the direction of Trimble Funeral Home, Moline. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriner's Hospital for Children, 913 Foxpoint, Sycamore, IL, 60178, or to Friendship Manor, 1209 21st Ave., Rock Island, Il, 61201.

The former Marion Adele Buss was born on November 16, 1921, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to Herman and Jennie (Saylor) Buss. After graduating from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in August 1944, Marion was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the US Army Nurse Corps in January 1945. After basic training at Ft. George Meade, Maryland, she was assigned to several Army hospitals along the east coast where she attended to casualties who were delivered by sea or air, directly from the European battlefields.

Posted to overseas duty, she boarded a hospital ship (with 400 other nurses) in New York harbor to be transported to various stations of duty. Five months later after their ship survived a violent typhoon in the Pacific Ocean, she landed in Inchon, Korea. on Christmas Eve, 1945. During the ocean voyage Japan had surrendered, and while in Korea her main patients were American Army of Occupation men from Japan sent over to be treated in Korea.

After duty in Seoul, she was assigned to Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colorado, where she was appointed head nurse on the floor where streptomycin was being used to study its effects on various illnesses. She was awarded the Army Commendation Ribbon for Meritorious Achievement for her work on the streptomycin project. It was during this time she was promoted to 1st Lt. 

It was during her tenure at Fitzsimons, where she met her future husband, Captain John Ackley, a P 38 pilot, who had served in the Ninth Air force in Europe. He was her patient, and the first time she saw him she always said, “she was a goner". They were married in the little chapel at Fitzsimons in February 1947. Marion was discharged from the Army Nurse Corps in May 1947.

Marion and John traveled extensively including four trips to Hawaii, a month in South America, Tahiti, The Fiji Islands, Israel, Egypt, the South Pacific Islands cruise, India and around most of Europe when they lived in Heidelberg, Germany, for six years where her husband worked for John Deere.

Marion was a member of the Trinity Medical Auxiliary for over 30 years serving as corresponding secretary of its board, and Moline Women's Club, serving as president and secretary of its Garden Department. She served as President and secretary of the Evelyn Hodgson Circle of Kings Daughters and Sons and was secretary of the 20th Century Women's Club. Marion and John were long time members of Short Hills Country Club.

Survivors include daughter Jean and son-in-law Irwin Witzel, Placerville, Colorado; son John and daughter-in-law Allyson of Moline; son Randy, West Palm Beach, Florida; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Sandy Wescoe of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, John; beloved daughter, Judy and son-in-law Craig Miller; beloved daughter-in-law, Teresa Ackley; one sister and three brothers.

Marion’s family invites friends to share stories and condolences at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.