Marlene Eernisse, 86

Marlene Eernisse, 86, of Toledo, Iowa, went Home to be with Jesus and so many of her loved ones on Sunday, April 30, 2023. After enduring chronic pain for years, and then suffering from a broken hip, she chose to enter Comfort Care at Grinnell Regional Medical Center, where she received compassionate, loving care. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 4, 2023 from 4-7 PM at Christ United Methodist Church in Toledo. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Christ United Methodist Church with Pastor Jill Mack officiating. Burial will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo with lunch following at the church.

Marlene was born on a farm, north of Toledo, on October 29, 1936. Born during the depression, her parents, Floyd and Florence (Head) Davis, had little, but provided a lot of love, and instilled the importance of faith and family to all 5 children, which she then passed down to her family. She was baptized at Pleasant Hill Methodist Church, and was a devoted, faithful member of the Methodist Church her entire life. Marlene graduated from Toledo High School in 1954 and lived the majority of her life in Toledo. She enjoyed telling people that she lived on K Avenue for a total of 65 years, but it was at 3 different places in rural Toledo (the farm she was born on, the family Heritage Farm, and her apartment at Country View Place)!

In 1957, her life-long friend, Karen Eernisse, arranged for her brother, Gerald, to make a delivery to Marlene, and the rest is history. In 1958, they were joined in marriage and made their home on Gerald’s family farm, where she resided until seven years after his death. It was here that they raised their 3 daughters, and worked side-by-side in their farming and trucking operations. Marlene took pride in helping Gerald on the farm, doing all of the bookwork for the farm and trucking operations, and even drove truck for several years!

Marlene taught Sunday School, was Sunday School Treasurer, was very active with the local WSCS and UMW, the Waterloo District UMW, Jayceettes, DAR, GFWC/Iowa Toledo Woman’s Club, Rose Hill Cemetery Society, and Pleasant Hill Cemetery Society. She delivered Meals on Wheels, was a faithful blood donor, and gave unselfishly of her time to her church and community. But her greatest service to Christ United Methodist Church was serving as the church treasurer for over 20 years.

As busy as she was with all of her clubs, activities, organizations, and church obligations, her greatest joy was the time she spent with her family. Marlene loved to have fun! She especially loved the time spent playing cards and board games with family and friends. She particularly looked forward to playing “Hand and Foot” with her card club friends every opportunity she could get. Family get-togethers were of the upmost importance and they often revolved around her enjoyment of making food for everyone. She is especially remembered for her pizza burgers, layered Jell-O salad, moon cake, pecan or sour cream peach pie, pasta salad, “home baked” rolls, buttermilk brownies, Chex mix, and the Sunday night favorite, popcorn and malts or sodas. Her kids, grandkids, and nieces and nephews will always treasure the memories made with Gerald and Marlene at their home on the farm.

Although the farm gave Marlene a lot of joy, it just wasn’t the same after Gerald’s passing in 2004. Ironically, Larry Skala, whom she dated in high school, lost his wife, Mardis, 2 months after Gerald’s passing. After a few years, Larry asked Marlene out for supper and they rekindled their friendship. They became great companions and eventually married in 2011. She valued their time together until his passing in 2020. She was very fortunate to have found 2 men who loved and cared deeply for her.

Marlene had a great life, but she also experienced many sad times. Besides losing Gerald and Larry, she was also preceded in death by her parents, her sister and brother-in-law, Floriss and Frank Adair, her other sister and brother-in-law, Faye and Gordon Evans, her brother Forrest Orla Davis, Gerald’s parents, Harold and Ruth Eernisse, Gerald’s sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Don Havran, and Brenda’s children, Justin and Hannah Maass.

There are many family members left to carry on her legacy of faith, family, and fun. Her daughters: Brenda (Lynn) Maass, Sandra Eernisse, and Marcia (Martin) Hoskey; her grandchildren: Brenda’s daughter Jessica (John) Hanson; Sandra’s daughters Stephanie and Samantha Roeder; and Marcia’s children Eli (Cheryl) Hoskey, Amelia (Derek) Kemper, Naomi (Terry) Winders, and Seth Hoskey; her great grandchildren: Jessica’s children Mya, Brent, Carsen, and Logan and John’s children, Emma and Jack; Stephanie’s children, Syraine, Kyndall, Ammry, and Kylyss; Samantha’s children, Shylin, Rayce, and Hadley; Eli’s children Maddix, Melvin, and Laramie; and Amelia’s children Emma and Grady; her brother Marc (Rita) Davis, her sister-in-law Colleen Davis, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Marlene is also fondly remembered by Larry’s children, step-children, and their families. Larry’s children Stacy (Jan) Skala, Nancy (Mark) Drury, and Jason Skala. Mardis’s children Cindy See and Roger (Julie) Norton.

In lieu of flowers, Marlene preferred to have monetary donations made payable to either Christ United Methodist Church, PO Box 285, Toledo, IA 52342, or Iowa River Hospice, 502 Plaza Heights Rd, Marshalltown, IA 50158.

Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo, is assisting the family with the arrangements.