Marilyn Wedemeyer

Marilyn Joyce Wedemeyer, 94, of Guthrie Center, Iowa, and formerly of Adair, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at the Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center.

Marilyn Joyce (Ernst) Wedemeyer was the only daughter of Karl Adam Ernst and Minnie Edna (Simon) Ernst. She was born January 23, 1924, at the farm home of her aunt and uncle in Meadow Grove, Nebraska. She grew up on a farm northwest of Adair, attended rural schools and graduated from Adair High School in 1941. She was baptized and confirmed at Adair Immanuel Lutheran Church. After high school and training, Marilyn was a teacher in area rural schools for three years.

On August 1, 1944, she married Clair Donal Wedemeyer, her high school classmate, and they began their farm life on the family farm north of Adair. They raised four sons, Danny Joe (1945), Lynn Del (1948), Lyle Dee (1952) and Marlon Jay (1956). The family belonged to the Adair United Methodist Church.

Marilyn was a strong farm wife, who held her own with the five men in her family. She could do anything from operating a tractor to cooking a huge noon dinner to bringing coffee and sandwiches to the field for workers.

Above all, Marilyn was dedicated to family and friends. Everything she did revolved around raising her four sons - and her and Donal were proud that all four graduated from Iowa State University and two went on to many advanced degrees. Later, Marilyn’s love extended to her daughters-in-law and grandkids who she made sure were part of a strong family. She and Donal enjoyed many trips to Hawaii to stay with sons Dan and Marlon.

Marilyn belonged to United Methodist Women, The Adair Speculators and was a 77-year member of the hundred-year-old rural Happy Hour Club. She wrote thousands of cards to friends and family for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and other life events. Her first response to any local news was “I need to get a card sent to them.” Her farm cooking was well known among family and friends.

Marilyn was an intelligent, organized, strong and self-dependent person to the last day of her life, when she got up, dressed, put on her make-up and walked to breakfast. But for all her strong will, Marilyn also knew how to put others at ease. And most importantly, she loved to laugh – and then laugh some more.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Adam and Minnie; her husband, Donal; her son, Danny; and beloved grandson, Ryan. She is survived by her sons Del, Lyle and Marlon; the daughters-in-law she loved: Sharon, Cheryl and Sets; her grandchildren: Jenni, Amelia, Olivia and Lauren; granddaughter-in-law, Jennifer Wedemeyer; and grandson-in-law, Josh Wiig; and great-grandchildren, Andrew, Lucas, Alena, Adalyn and Kaden.

She leaves behind a loving family who will miss her spark for life and her strong will to live every day dedicated to family, friends and a positive life.

Visitation with family will be from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 25, 2018, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Adair, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 26, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., at the Adair United Methodist Church in Adair, Iowa. Interment will be at the Sunnyhill Cemetery in Adair, IA.