Marion Dienhart

Marion Joan (Peterson) Dienhart of Gobles, Michigan and Bradenton Florida, passed away on December 8th, 2024 at the age of 95.

Marion, affectionately known as “Yaya” was born July 10, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, to Harold R. Peterson and Mary M. Myslewiec. Harold Peterson’s family, descendants of Norway and eventually founded Peterson/Precision Spring Companies. Her mother Mary was a descendant of Poland whose family had a dairy farm in Pinconning, MI. She attended Cooley High School in Detroit, Michigan, where she earned multiple varsity letters in basketball, track and swimming. Swimming, it turned out, was her favorite. She was captain of her basketball team, and president of her sorority. She later married Alexander L Buiwitt and together they had 4 children.

She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. A pillar of in her faith and in the community who instilled strong values and religious beliefs in her family. She loved nothing more than spending time with her children Chrissy, Brad, Joann, and Angela. Marion loved being outdoors, biking, sewing, reading and baking.

Her swimming passion continued throughout her lifetime. You could find her at every local pool around Kalamazoo ensuring there were programs for the youth. She taught all of her children, and grandchildren how to swim.

In 1952, Marion was selected to participate and travel to Finland to introduce synchronized swimming to the Olympic Games. While in Finland, her team won the Bronze Metal. The introduction was successful, and synchronized swimming is now recognized as an Olympic sport.

Her passion led her to become the swimming pioneer of the community. Marion was the lead swimming instructor at the YWCA in Kalamazoo. She was instrumental in obtaining an Olympic size pool at the Elks Golf Club in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was also a dedicated Brownie and Girl Scout leader for many years.

She was an avid learner, attended Western Michigan University where she studied Journalism and Accounting and Davenport University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. She loved to submit her short stories to share with the world. She was always focused on health and wellness. In her later years, she studied Cosmetology and held licenses in Florida, California, and Michigan.

She loved spending her winters in Bradenton Florida with summers back in Michigan. The last five years she enjoyed living with her daughter Chris and Joe Mraz in California. Wherever she was, you would always find her sitting in the sunshine.

Marion will always be remembered for her sweetness, kindness, grace, appreciation of beautiful things and overall wit and “one liner” humor. Her life was full of love of family, friends, and she expressed constant gratitude and wonder. She ended nearly every conversation with “love you more”.

Surviving are her children: Christine (Joe Mraz) Ballesteros-Mraz, Brad (Terri) Buiwitt, and Joann (David) Buiwitt-Shafer-Carpenter, grandchildren: John, Jennifer, Britni, Broc, Luke (Emily) Shafer, and great-grandchildren: Summer Mraz, Aubree and Beau Sellers, Colton Brockman and Elowen Shafer, nephew Randy Peterson and her constant companion, her Labrador Winter. She was preceded in death by her daughter Angela and brother Raymond.

A celebration of life Mass will be held Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 11 AM at St. Mary Church, 209 S. Brown St., Paw Paw, Michigan 49079. Committal will follow at Robinson Cemetery, in Gobles, MI 49055.

Celebrate Marion’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA of Kalamazoo.