Marilyn Alice “Da” Mischlich, 88, of Overland Park, KS passed away peacefully Saturday, February 21, 2026, surrounded by family.  

Rosary followed by visitation will be Friday March 6th, 4-6 pm at Porter Funeral home 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS, 66215. Funeral Mass will be March 7th, 10:30 am at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 8311 W. 93rd St, Overland Park, KS, 66212. Burial will follow immediately at Resurrection Cemetery, 8300 Quivira Rd, Lenexa, KS 66215. A lunch reception will be held at the church immediately following the burial.

Marilyn was born August 1, 1937, in Salina KS, the daughter of Raymond and Alice Wary. Her childhood activities included riding bikes and horses, playing with friends and siblings and delivering papers. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic High School, where she sang in the choir and played the clarinet in the marching band.  

She went on to receive her nursing degree from St Mary’s in Kansas City, where she formed many lifelong friendships - and got into her fair share of mischief, much to the chagrin of the nuns. Through these friends she met her husband, Howard Mischlich, and they were married in 1960. Together they settled in Overland Park, living in the same home for over 55 years. 

Marilyn and Howard were founding members of Holy Cross Catholic Church. Her faith was central to her life and was lived through action—social justice work, Right to Life activities, women’s circles, bridge groups, holy hours, rosary groups, and volunteering at food pantries. She was always happy to bring others along to church, the food kitchen, or Uplift, and she expected her family to live their faith, not just talk about it.

Marilyn worked as a nurse, beginning in pediatrics and later in geriatrics.  Over the years she also pierced ears and worked for the census.

Marilyn was an avid tennis player. A good game of rummy was always fun with friends. Later in life she took up golf, even scoring a hole-in-one. She loved swimming and biking and completed a mini-triathlon (finishing first in her age division) as well as the MS-150 ride.

Devoted to her family, Marilyn was a constant presence at the activities of her children, grandchildren, and their friends. A lifelong “doer,” she was never one to watch from the sidelines—you might find her fishing in a creek, racing down a pool slide, or building sandcastles at the beach. Many remember seeing Marilyn riding her bike, sometimes with tennis balls or poker chips tumbling out of the basket as she rode down 95th street. 

Marilyn loved to travel with Howard, friends, and family, embracing new cultures, learning a few words of the local language, and always willing to try new foods. She loved singing along to music and passed away listening to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”

She was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Alice Wary, her husband Howard, her son Stephen, and her siblings JoEllen Cripe, Barbara Ann Hutchison and Ted Wary.  She is survived by her children Doug Mischlich (Julie), Dana Mischlich, Barbara Bins (Bill), grandchildren Griffin (Mary), Henry (Emma), Stephen and Greta Bins, Kate and Matthew Mischlich, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross Catholic Church in Overland Park or SOAR: https://soarspecialneeds.org/.