Marlene Danner, 87, of Burlington, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday March 5, 2024 in Burlington.

Marlene, AKA, "Nana" was born April 29, 1936 in Emporia, KS, to the late Oscar and Mary Schaefer (Pantle) of Olpe, KS.  She was the second of four children.  She grew up in Olpe on the farm playing with her siblings down by the creek and in the barn.  She especially loved riding horses with her brother Larry.

She met and married WJ Danner on May 14, 1955 at the Methodist Church in Emporia, KS.  They worked and traveled throughout their married years racing thoroughbred race horses in Nebraska, Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, but most of all Ohio and Kentucky.  Marlene always worked alongside WJ at the barn while raising the kids.  While she continued to travel with the horses, her priority was to get back to Kansas where she was the happiest.

Marlene was a woman that had many interests.  Country music, watching rodeos, collecting frogs, and watching any old western she could, especially Gunsmoke which was her favorite.  She never missed an episode of Andy Griffith!  She was an avid fisherwoman and went fishing any chance she could.  She loved teaching her grandkids how to fish!  She could play the piano by ear and often you would walk into her house and hear her playing a tune all by herself!  If you were ever at her house, you never went hungry - that's for sure.  She was known for her chocolate sheet cake, carrot cake and especially her apple crisp.  Kids from all around town would come down to help with the horses and she would always feed them.  She treated everyone just like they were her own.

Surviving Marlene is her husband WJ, her sister Norma Mayes (Richard) and her children, Mike Danner (Kathy) of Hays, KS, Brad Danner (Rashelle) of New Smyrna Beach, FL, Doug Danner of Florence, KY, and Angie Avalon (Bill) of Aurora, OH.  The grandchildren that she loved dearly, Jake Danner (Carissa), Heeth Simpson (Stephanie), Chelsie Klein (TJ), Zach Danner, Allie Sleezer (Colin), Amber Laudat (Lester), Preston Danner (Teresa), Billy Avalon (Hannah), Alex Avalon, Michael Avalon, Trevor Danner, and 17 Great-Grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 29, 2024 at Rock Creek Country Club in Burlington at 3:00 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of the Flint Hills in Emporia, KS (Marlene loved animals) or Mid-America Nutrition/ Meals on Wheels in Burlington and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.