Marleen Mae Doerk

Marleen Doerk, 82, passed away August 28, 2026. Funeral Mass 11 a.m. October 2, 2026 at St. Bridget of Kildare Parish, 5620 Hauserman Rd. Parma, Ohio. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery following the mass. Marleen was born in Cleveland, OH on March 16, 1944 to the late Edna Mae (Busch) and Walter Fredrick Kleinpeter. On June 19, 1971 she married Edward Norman Doerk, Jr. and he preceded her in death. Marleen was a devoted wife, mother, educator, and friend whose warmth and steady presence touched many lives. As a fourth-grade teacher at Thoreau Park Elementary School, she was committed to helping children learn and grow, and she remained active for many years in the Sigma chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an altruistic organization of teachers that carried out charitable projects with Parma City Schools and other groups in the area. She had a lifelong love of reading and enjoyed puzzles, traveling, and crafting, including embroidery. Practical and thoughtful by nature, she encouraged those around her to be careful and sensible; yet she was also quick to laugh, recognizing the importance of humor and not taking life too seriously, and possessing a natural ability to make others feel welcome and included. She especially valued time with her family and took great pleasure in enabling her children to develop and pursue their interests. She and her husband, Edward, shared a deep and loving partnership for 33 years, that she cherished all the years they had together. She will be remembered for her kindness, laughter, devotion to family, and the many quiet ways she enriched the lives of those around her. Marleen is survived by: sons, Bryan Duerk and wife Vicky, and Gregory Doerk and wife Kayley; daughter, Denise Schmidt and husband Rob; grandchildren, Jasmine Duerk, Tristan Duerk, Sawyer Schmidt, and Dawson Schmidt; brothers, Walter Kleinpeter and wife Mary, and David Kleinpeter and wife Diana; sister, Marjorie Schnell and husband Dennis. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Parma City School Foundation, 7377 Chateau Dr. Parma, OH 44130 (please place her name on donation), or at Parma City School Foundation, https://gofund.me/4a9736375. Donations will be going towards teachers at Thoreau Park Elementary.