Obituary for Marian Sophie Schmillen Marcus, IA – Marian Sophie Schmillen, 93, of Marcus, IA passed away on Friday January 8, 2016 at the Heartland Care Center in Marcus. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday January 12, 2016 at Faith Lutheran Church in Marcus. Burial will follow at Marcus-Amherst Cemetery in Marcus. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 11, 2016 at the Earnest-Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus. The family will be present from 5-7 with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour before service time on Tuesday at the church.

Marian Sophie Schmillen was born on November 3, 1922 south of Marcus, Iowa to Linford and Frances (Bentien) Stowater. She attended rural schools in Cherokee and O'Brien counties. Her first two years were at Germantown Parochial School where she learned the Catechism in the German language. She graduated from Marcus High School in 1940. During those years, Marian played the coronet in the band. For three years she served as telephone operator for West Iowa Telephone Company in the Marcus office.

On January 7, 1943, Marian and Raymond A. Schmillen were united in marriage at Carmel Lutheran (now Faith Lutheran) Church in Marcus. The couple lived in Rome, New York while Ray served in the Army Air Corps. Marian moved back to Marcus when Ray was sent overseas. After the war they made their home on the family farm south of Marcus. After 47 years of farming together they retired and moved into Marcus in 1987.

Marian was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Marcus. She participated in WELCA and sang in the choir. She was known as "Sophie" to family and lovingly referred to as "Sarge" by her boys. She enjoyed traveling and the outdoors, gardening, playing cards, and time spent with friends. Her most cherished times were spent with her family. She moved to the Heartland Care Center on October 8, 2015.

She will be lovingly remembered by her sons, Mikel and Gloria Schmillen of Spencer, Iowa and Kent and Kathy Schmillen of Cherokee, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Ina Schmillen of Elkhorn, Nebraska; grandchildren, Michelle Clinton, Cyndi (Josh) Robirds, Angela (Scott) Mingus, Sherry (Jim) Minge, Tricia (Tom) Greinert, Luke (Kara) Schmillen and Amanda Schmillen; great-grandchildren, Nigel Clinton, Ava Clinton, Cordell Schmillen, Pierce and Desiree Robirds, Stella and Vivian Minge, Calvin and Hallee Mingus, Emma and Lexi Schmillen, Merak and Owyn Greinert; and a brother, Herbert (Helen) Stowater of Le Mars, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Raymond on February 24, 2004, a son, Steven on November 22, 2010; grandchildren, Cory Schmillen and Sue Schmillen; a sister, Jean Juhl; and brothers, Loren Stowater and Bob Stowater.

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