While still an infant, her mother surrendered custody to her maternal grandparents, Charlie and Clara Meseke.
[2] Following her adoption, she was renamed Marilyn, given her grandmother's surname of Meseke and reared in the family home on South Prospect Street in Marion, Ohio.
Her second title in 1938 qualified her to represent Ohio in the national Miss America pageant.
Meseke's return to Marion on September 29, 1938, included a night time parade attended by 30,000 well wishers from hometown and surrounding communities.
Following the pageant win, Meseke continued to make appearances and teach dance in Marion.