Dr. Debra L. Marsch, age 53, of Greenville, passed away Sunday, November 15 at Greenville Regional Hospital. A Memorable Musical Extravaganza commemorating the life of 53 year old Dr. Debra L. Marsch will be held Thursday, November 19 at 3:30 p.m. at the Whitlock Music Center at Greenville College. Friends may call Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home and again following the service Thursday. Memorials are suggested to Greenville College.
Debra Lynn Hanie was born on June 28, 1962, the daughter of John Virgil Hanie and Betty Nell Jordan Hanie, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Debra was raised in Georgia where her father served for many years in the United States Army. After Debra’s father retired from the military, her family moved to Rogersville, MO where she graduated from Logan-Rogersville High School.
In May, 1984, Debra graduated from Evangel College, Springfield, MO with a Bachelor of Music Education. While attending Evangel University, she met her future husband, Danny Jay Marsch, who also was attending Evangel. Danny and Debra were united in Holy Matrimony on May 7, 1983, in Springfield, MO.
In 1988, Mrs. Marsch began her master studies while attending the Kansas City Conservatory of Music. In 1995, Mrs. Marsch earned both a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Master of Opera from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From 1994 to 1996, Professor Marsch was also a member of the adjunct faculty at Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
Upon her graduation from Temple University, Mrs. Marsch had the opportunity to tour Germany and Austria performing gospel, classical music, and opera at various venues. In 1996, Mrs. Marsch and her husband moved to Greenville where she became an associate professor of Music at Greenville College. In May, 2015, Professor Marsch was awarded her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Marsch’s studio was THE place for a voice lesson, an encouraging word, and a cup of tea from her world-class tea stash. Dr. Marsch’s life focused on her much loved family, her devotion to music, sharing her vast knowledge and vocal skills with her students. Her unique musical gifts will be sorely missed by her family, students, and fellow faculty members.
Dr. Marsch is survived by her husband, Danny Jay Marsch, twins Danielle Jordan Marsch and Derek Nathaniel Marsch. Both her children are currently attending Greenville College. Dr. Marsch was preceded in death by her parents.
Dr. Marsch was a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Her family are members of the Greenville Free Methodist Church. Over the years, Dr. Marsch graciously shared her golden voice as a testimony of God’s grace in churches around the country.
A life extinguished far too soon, Dr. Marsch will be greatly missed by all who had the fortune to share time with her on this earth. Heaven’s choir just gained another soprano.
Zephaniah 3:17
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Until we meet again, my love. I’ll continue to raise our children into a godly woman and man and do you proud.
See you in Heaven Mama llama; I love you Murm the Wurm!
A memorial fund has been established.
Make checks payable to: Greenville College
Memo Line: Debra Marsch Voice Memorial Fund
Address: 315 East College Avenue, Greenville, IL 62246
Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home
203 W Oak St
Greenville, IL 62246
618-664-0431
