Marlene Harpenau, 80, of Le Mars passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at Park Place Estates in Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 12, 2014 at All Saints Catholic Parish-St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Burial will follow at St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery in Oyens, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at St. Joseph Church. A Catholic Daughter’s Rosary will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church on Friday prior to Mass.
Marlene was born on July 7, 1934 to Peter and Alvina (Plendl) Kneip in Le Mars, Iowa. She graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1952. She married LeRoy Harpenau on May 29, 1956, in Le Mars. For the next 41 years, the couple farmed near Oyens. LeRoy passed away on January 25, 1998. Marlene moved to Park Place Estates in Le Mars this past June.
Marlene loved her family and would do anything for them. Attending all of her grandchildren’s events gave her great joy. She enjoyed coffee with her friends and participated in many card clubs. Marlene was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Oyens, St. Catherine’s Women’s Guild, Christian Mothers, Catholic Daughters Court Santa Maria 179 Le Mars, and Catholic Women Diocese of Sioux City.
Survivors include, four daughters: Kathie Nelson and her husband, Roger, of Humboldt, Kristie Hirschman and her husband, Myron, of Winterset, Sharon Weiler and her husband, Pat, of Pella, and Mary Beth Schorg and her husband, Rick, of Lawton and a son, Brian and his wife, Tonya, of Le Mars; 17 grandchildren: Kristin (Tom) Nostrom, Mitchell, Leann and Garrett Nelson, Kathie (Jeff) Perkins, Carl (Michelle) Hirschman and Barbara (Krisda) Chaiyachati, Megan (Jeremy) Green, Joel (Nichelle) Weiler and Katelyn (Colin) Freeseman, Amanda and Aaron Schorg, Madison, Brooke, Lauren, Zachary and Matthew Harpenau; eight great-grandchildren; brothers, Kenneth (Sally) Kneip of Le Mars and Norman (special friend Carol Ann Murray) Kneip of Knoxville, IA; sisters-in-laws Connie Kneip and Janice Kneip of Le Mars, Vernell (Jerry) Chapman of Le Mars and Margie (Rich) Frericks and Helen (Paul) Galles of Remsen; brother-in-laws, Robert of Le Mars, Don (Ione) of Diamond Bar, CA., Ray (Shirley) of Remsen and Tom (Sharon) of Alton; her good friend and cousin, Mary Ann Ruether.
Marlene is welcomed into Heaven with open arms by her husband, parents; brothers Roddy and Gary Kneip; brothers-in-law, Chester Bergner and Bill Harpenau; sisters-in-law Carole Kneip, Doris Bergner and Jeanette Harpenau; niece Linda Kneip and her mother and father-in-law, John and Philomena (Langel) Harpenau.
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