He was the son of Russell and Edna Johnston. He was married to Doris Ann Harrang in September of 1946. Marshall and Doris were long-time members of First Congregational Church of Janesville. She preceded him in death in July of 2010. He was a 1939 graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota. He served in the United States Navy in World War II. It was during that time that he met his wife, Doris in Minneapolis, and they were married shortly after the war. They began their life together in Watertown, SD, where he began his long and distinguished career in the newspaper industry. Starting as an advertising sales representative with the Watertown Public Opinion, he assumed various management positions, eventually moving his family to Janesville, where he ultimately became the President and General Manager of the Janesville Gazette. He retired in 1988, and became Chairman of the Board of the Gazette Printing Company, parent company of the Gazette. He was widely respected in the newspaper industry as an authority on legislative matters that impact freedom of the press. He served for many years on the Wisconsin Newspaper Association's Freedom of Information Council and was especially active in promoting open government records and meetings. Marshall served on the Board of Directors of the Janesville Economic Development Corporation and the Board of Directors of the Fairhaven Retirement Home in Whitewater. He is a past president of Boys Baseball of Janesville, and a former board member of the Janesville YMCA, the Janesville Concert Association and the Beloit-Janesville Symphony Orchestra. He was recognized by the symphony in 1990, for his role in initiating the annual Fourth of July concerts in the park at the courthouse.
Marshall had a great fondness for Blue Spring Lake, near Palmyra, WI. He and Doris purchased a summer home there in 1981, and in their later years spent many hours enjoying beautiful views, slow boat rides, and many happy times with family and friends. Marshall leaves behind four children; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Henke-Clarson Funeral Home. Source: Janesville Gazette Noveember 14, 2012.