In Memory of Marlene Myers

December 10, 1943 – April 4, 2018

Marlene K. Myers, 74, of Hiawatha, formerly of Alburnett, passed away peacefully from complications related to Parkinson’s Disease on April 4, 2018, at The Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa. Marlene was born on December 10, 1943, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Orlan and Ruby Klopp. She graduated from Alburnett Community High School in 1962. Following high school Marlene worked as a stenographer at Collins Radio. She was united in marriage to Albert G. Myers on November 28, 1964, at St Matthews Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. They lived for over 37 years on an acreage outside Alburnett, where they raised their four children. Marlene and Albert moved to Marion, Iowa in 2006. Albert passed away on September 6, 2008. Marlene became a member of the long-term care community at Hiawatha Care Center in December 2015.

Marlene’s involvement in her faith and community spread far and wide. She served as a Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girl Leader. She taught C.C.D. and Sunday School classes. Marlene and Al were very involved in National Marriage Encounter, the Renegade’s Bicycle Club and Associates to the Dubuque Presentation Sisters. The couple also enjoyed dancing as members of the Rapid Squares Square Dancers. Marlene was in Toastmasters, Beta Sigma Phi social sorority and M.O.M.’s (Ministry of Mothers Sharing). She also attended “Wednesday Women” at Prariewoods and was a member of The @Home Retreat Group for over 25 years. Always a lover of learning, Marlene spent many years as a student. She received her Teacher’s Associate and Associate of Arts Degree from Kirkwood College in 1982. In 1985, Marlene started working in the Student Life office of Coe College in Cedar Rapids. She loved life on campus and decided to continue her education at Coe. In 1990, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude from Coe College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She then received her Master of Science in Higher Education in December 1995, from Iowa State University. In 2004, she received her Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota. She worked as a Pastoral Minister for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Hiawatha, Iowa from 1995 to 2006.

Marlene enjoyed dancing, bicycling, traveling, reading, playing cards and corresponding. She loved being Nana to her granddaughters, JoJo and Maya. Marlene also loved being with her family and friends at “the Little Yellow House on the Root River Trail” in Whalan & Lanesboro, Minnesota. Marlene was a loving lady who advocated for others with passion and conviction. She was known for her friendly smile, kindness and bringing people to gather together, “creating community”. Visitors and staff would often find her writing letters at Hiawatha Care Center while decked out in a brightly colored hat, scarf and matching shoes.

Those left to honor her memory are her children, Dawn (Judd) Zulgad, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Leisa (Brian) Osterhaus, Dyersville, Kurt Myers, Marion and Kraig (Nadine) Myers, Walker; two granddaughters, Jordynn and Maya Osterhaus; brother Calvin (Joyce) Klopp; sisters, Joanne (Larry) Delong; sisters-in-law, Esther Myers, Magdalen Wieling, Dorothy Cotant, Sister Dolores Myers, Marilyn (Carl) Hoffman and Elaine Hill; and many nieces and nephews.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents; her father in-law, William Myers; mother-in-law, Bertha Myers; sisters -in-law, Ann Klopp, Betty (Tony) Sieverding, Francis (Paul)Kress; brothers-in-law, Ralph Weiling, Leonard (Alice) Myers and James Cotant; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mary and Bernard DeSloover; niece, Kristin Klopp; nephews, Joel Klopp, Doug Kress and Mark Sieverding.

Marlene was a wonderful friend and neighbor. In return she experienced the love and support from many, many people. We, her children, feel a special connection to all of you who were such an enormous part of her life. Thank you for your love, your support and the stories you shared about how she impacted your lives and her faith community.

Her family would also like to give special thanks to the staff of Hiawatha Care Center for the wonderful personal care they provided, to the Easter Sunday night shift in the Mercy Hospital ER Department for their approach to honoring the rights and dignity of our mother and to the Hospice of Mercy staff for their dedication and care of those entering the final stages of life. Our mother collected many angels over the years – please consider yourselves a part of this experience. The phrase “angels on earth” accurately describes you all.