Ilse Hedwig Kada Marcum, age 96, widow of Jesse Leon Marcum, passed away on Monday, June 15, 2026, at her home on Marcum Road in Clay City, Kentucky. Born on Tuesday, September 3, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Ernst Kraft and the late Betty Scheuring Kraft. Ilse spent her early teenage years in World War II Germany, experiencing all of the calamities associated with living in a country at war in the city of Frankfurt. After the war, she had the opportunity to meet her future husband, Jesse, while he was serving in the United States Forces occupying Germany. They were married in 1947, and Ilse came to America to start her new life on Little Hardwicks Creek in Clay City. During some portions of her life, she worked in a couple of different factories, doing everything from sewing to making shoes. Her favorite job came later in life when she worked at the Natural Bridge State Park Lodge as a cook, preparing great meals for the tourists and guests. Ilse enjoyed the hobbies of reading, crocheting, and knitting, and in her earlier life she loved to dance and, at times, play the piano. She loved to cook for her whole family, and nothing made her happier than her whole family gatherings on Sunday at her home. She loved her grandchildren deeply and took great delight in their presence. A great way to describe Ilse's character was that she knew what she wanted in life, she knew her mind and she loved her husband and family. In addition to parents and her husband, Ilse is preceded in death by her grandson, Chester Bailey. She is survived by two sons: Roland E. Marcum and John M. (Teresa) Marcum, both of Clay City; two daughters: Sandra B.(James) Bailey and Renee Y. (Ken Howell) Marcum-Losey, also both of Clay City; four grandchildren: Dylan (Carrigan) Losey, Angela Marcum, Leslie Teal and Jessica Renee Marcum; nine great grandchildren, 13 great great grandchildren and one great great great grandchild. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at Hearne Funeral Home, 125 West College Avenue, Stanton, Kentucky. Funeral services, officiated by Bro. Stephen Donithan will be held at the funeral home at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Burial will be held at Ware Cemetery in Clay City, Kentucky, with Brian Marcum, Rick Terry, Hunter Bailey, Mason Bailey, William Caudill, and Mike Terry serving as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Darrell Frazier, Wayne Abney, James Bailey, and Ken Howell. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hearne Funeral Home of Stanton.