Marcia A. Hardie
Marcia Adell (Anklam) Hardie, 87, of Chippewa Falls, and formerly of Taylor, died Thursday, January 29, 2026.
Marcia was born February 6, 1938, in Adams County, WI, to Rudolph and Virginia (Blabaum) Anklam. Her mother died in childbirth when Marcia was two, and she and her father moved to live with her grandparents, Walter and Adella Blabaum, in Highland, WI, where she went to school.
Marcia enrolled in the teacher’s school at Wisconsin State College at Platteville where she met Robert Hardie, who was a student at the Platteville Mining and Engineering School. The couple married August 29, 1959, in Muscoda, WI, and moved to Bethlehem, PA, for three years where Bob worked as a mining engineer.
They moved to Hales Corners, WI, in 1963, when Bob worked for Nordberg Manufacturing in Milwaukee. In 1970, they moved to the homestead farm in the town of Franklin and began dairy farming with Bob’s uncle and aunt, Leland and Sara Clair, on the farm started by Bob’s grandparents, Ray and Hilda Hardie.
Marcia began teaching in 1972, at Melrose-Mindoro School District, where she taught her son, Kevin, in junior high and also was her son, Chris’s, second-grade teacher. She then began teaching at Taylor School District and moved into administration, becoming the school’s principal.
Marcia continued to work in education after the consolidation of the Blair and Taylor school districts, working as a guidance counselor, at risk coordinator and in other positions. She was part of the Hardie trio of educators that also included her son, Kevin, and his wife, Kathryn. She continued to substitute teach and help out even after she retired full-time from education.
Marcia also played a large role in the farm. She was instrumental in the expansion and improvement of the dairy herd with investments in purebred Holsteins. Marcia would spend many hours with a catalog, pouring over potential bulls for the farm’s breeding program.
Marcia was also in charge of the farm’s calf-feeding program, raised chickens and always had a companion dog or two. She also cooked for her family and for the farm’s hired help, which included a hired hand and sometimes many nephews in the summer during the haying season.
Both Bob and Marcia were active members of North Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, where they would bring eggs to sell at the end of service, with the proceeds donated to ELCA World Hunger.
In 2007, Marcia survived two cerebral hemorrhages, but after a long hospital stay and several surgeries, returned home and resumed her normal life. The family was blessed with the additional years with her.
Marcia was proud of her German heritage and was fond of wearing a t-shirt that read: “An ornery German is a sour kraut.”
Marcia moved into assisted living in 2022, residing at Eagle Crest in Onalaska and Grand View Care Center in Blair before moving to Rutledge Home in Chippewa Falls in 2024. She was always smiling and greeting staff, fellow residents and visitors.
Marcia is survived by her sons: Kevin (Kathryn) Hardie of Eau Claire; Chris (Sherry) Hardie of West Salem; five grandchildren: Matthew Hardie of Oakdale, MN; Nicholas (Danielle) Hardie of NY; Rachel (Josh) Ranney of Chippewa Falls; Jessica (Josh) Benrud of Onalaska; Ross (Lucy) Hardie of New Lisbon; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; an infant son, Eric; and her granddaughter-in-law, Jenni.
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 16, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., at North Beaver Creek Lutheran Church (white building) followed by interment in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the church beginning at noon.
Memorials may be designated for ELCA World Hunger. Kratz Funeral Home (www.kratzfuneralhome.com) is assisting the family with arrangements.
