Marvin Howell

Marvin J. Howell, 69, of Walnut, Iowa, passed away Saturday, October 6, 2007, at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Marvin John Howell was born on August 10, 1938, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Marvin Hewitt and Dorothy Elizabeth (Wade) Howell. He was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Colfax, Iowa.

After his departure from high school, he hauled and picked up chickens in Colfax, Iowa, and then enlisted in the United States Army. Following the service, he went to work for Jensen Brothers Construction in Des Moines, Iowa, where he built bridges and sand drains. He later worked for Elk Horn (Forde) Construction in Elk Horn, Iowa, where he was a superintendent for 13 years. In 1977 he went to work for Godberson-Smith Construction Company in Ida Grove, Iowa, and worked there for 27 years, before retiring in 2003. Marvin went back to work in 2005 for A. M. Cohron and Son in Atlantic, but then decided to go into full retirement doing part time jobs in Walnut.

On October 30, 1964, he was united in marriage to Lorraine K. Christensen at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic.
Marvin was a member of the Optimist Club and a 17 year member of the American Legion Post #0422 in Walnut.

He was an avid Hawkeye, Cubs, and NASCAR fan. Marvin enjoyed spending time with his friends and giving them a hard time about opposing teams, especially Nebraska. He collected and worked on clocks. Most of all Marvin enjoyed spending time with his family, grandkids and friends.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Lorraine Howell of Walnut; daughters, Alesia Sandbothe and her husband, Doug of Atlantic, Iowa, and Theresa Opbroek and her husband, Mark of Marne, Iowa; four grandchildren, John and Jeremy Sandbothe of Atlantic, Iowa, and Kay and Samantha Opbroek of Marne, Iowa; brother, Richard Howell and his wife, Florence of Newton, Iowa; sister, JoAnn Cummings of Colfax, Iowa; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Dorothy Howell, sisters, Darlene Plummer and Margie Inghram; and a nephew, Jared Kono.

Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m., Thursday, October 11, 2007, in the chapel at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.

Following the memorial service the family invites you to join them for visitation and lunch at the American Legion Hall, 227 Antique City Drive in Walnut.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.