Marlene M. Aultman

Marlene M. Aultman loved animals, particularly birds and cats.

She often took care of hurt or homeless animals — including her constant companion, her cat Snow.

The two would often see each other when Mrs. Aultman sat on the deck of her Port Washington home, Mrs. Aultman’s daughter Debra Maxon said.

“This cat just kept watching her,” she said. “One day, he just crossed the street and  jumped in her lap, and that was it. They were best friends from that day on.”

Mrs. Aultman died of complications from cancer Thursday, March 15, at Atrium Post Acute Care in Plymouth. She was 73.

Mrs. Aultman was a native of Port Washington, born on June 18, 1944, to Joseph and Margaret Thiel Weiss.

She graduated from Port Washington High School, then married Richard Maxon.

Mr. Maxon died in 1963.

She then married Roger Aultman on May 28, 1971, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Saukville.

Mrs. Aultman held a number of jobs, including stints at the former Gilbert Shoe Factory and the former Doer Electric and  Allen-Edmonds Shoe Corp. She also worked as a school bus driver before taking a position as an accountant for Woolworth Corp. in Brown Deer.

“She loved math,” her daughter Debra said. “She really enjoyed her job as an accountant.”

Mrs. Aultman enjoyed reading, particularly mysteries and true crime stories, and she wrote poetry, even publishing some pieces.

She also enjoyed buying antique furniture and restoring it.    

A gardener, Mrs. Aultman was known for the beautiful window boxes teeming with flowers at her Monroe Street home in Port Washington.

She loved to sit outside watching the birds, squirrels and flowers in spring and the colors in fall. She also enjoyed looking at the Christmas lights and tasting her daughter’s shrimp salad, which was only made at Christmas.

Mrs. Maxon is survived by her husband Roger, daughter Debra (Charles) Maxon of West Bend, and grandchildren Melissa (Aaron) Maxon of Saukville and Michael Maxon of Grafton.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Maxon and parents Joseph and Margaret Weiss.

Private family services were held.

Memorials to the Ozaukee Humane Society are suggested.

Funeral arrangements were handled through Poole Funeral Home, Port Washington.