Like His Ohio Father, Dr. Marxen’s Life Ended in Tragedy Far too Early

To the editor:

I would like to add some information on Dr. Jeffrey Marxen as he was born and raised in my hometown of Van Wert, Ohio. 
 
I had read about him in the paper. It was a small article, but the name Marxen struck me as someone I had heard of before.  And in talking with my brother on Saturday, Feb. 25th, from Van Wert, Ohio, he mentioned that the late Dr. Norman Marxen’s son had been killed out here in California somewhere. 

That is when I told him that I had read about it, and it wasn’t too far from where we live in Escondido.
 
So I finally did find an article on his death in the Van Wert Independent, and thought that I would relate this to you as it is so weird that I would relate that with my brother.
 
His father was a well-known surgeon in Van Wert, and died in an airplane crash.  Not sure of the year of that, but how tragic they both passed.  Jeff was raised in Van Wert, Ohio and eventually moved to San Diego  (La Mesa).
 
Not sure if you have ever heard of the poem called The Dash.  Well, in as few words as I can tell you, it is when you pass, on your headstone, it has your name and the year you were born — and the year you passed. And we never know what happened in between, which is the dash.

Well, Dr. Jeffrey Marxen certainly had a lot that he accomplished with his “dash,” and it is so sad that he had to use it before he could add that last softball league to it with his calloused hands.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this and so thankful I found you and the wonderful story you wrote and filled in some of his “dash.”
 
Patty Strickler
Escondido