Obituaries : Marilyn Dawn Ferguson

VINTON – Marilyn Dawn Ferguson, 87, of Vinton, died Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at her home in Windsor Manor in Vinton following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 27, 2010, at First Christian Church in Vinton with Rev. Connie Wacht officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, December 26, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton.

Marilyn was born February 13, 1923, in Vinton, Iowa, the daughter of Lester and Mary Ludden Powers. She graduated from high school in Vinton.

On June 20, 1943, Marilyn was united in marriage with Max Ferguson at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama. He preceded her in death in August of 1994.

Marilyn worked at Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator for 20 years.

She was an active member of First Christian Church in Vinton. She was also a member of Order of the Eastern Star, the Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 Auxiliary, Telephone Pioneers and was a volunteer for the Virginia Gay Annex Auxiliary.

Max and Marilyn were avid golfers and members of the Vinton Country Club, where Marilyn achieved a hole-in-one. The couple enjoyed sporting events, trout fishing, traveling to Hawaii, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, New York City and other family vacations, and horse racing in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Marilyn also enjoyed doing crafts, reading, and was famous for the legendary treats she baked. Her greatest joy came from spending time with family.

Marilyn is survived by one daughter, Wendy (Al) Dunkelberger of La Porte City; one son, Randy Ferguson of Maquoketa; five grandchildren: Catherine Blandi and Matthew Blanchard, both of Gibsonia, PA; Dawn (Heath) Markland of Mt. Auburn; Gail Zea of Vinton; and Abby Ferguson of Dubuque; three step-grandchildren: Mindy (Josh) Gray of Kearney, MO; Curtis Schoenthaler of Iowa City; and Dena Dunkelberger of La Porte City; two great-grandchildren: Callise Blandi of Gibsonia, PA, and Lyndsay Dunkelberger of Mt. Auburn; four step-great-grandchildren: Hunter and Beau Gray of Kearney, MO; Josef Slocum of Seattle, WA; and Marcus Slocum of Cedar Rapids; two sisters-in-law, Lorraine Powers of Omaha, NE, and Ima Jean Smalley of Vinton and many nieces and nephews who affectionately called her “Aunt Sis.”

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one daughter, Mary Blanchard; five brothers: John, George, Eugene, Bert and Robert Powers; six sisters-in-law: Hazel, Betty and Ethel Powers, Jennie Hensing, LuRene Carlson and Zelma Ferguson; three brothers-in-law: George Hensing, Einar Carlson and Earle Ferguson; two nephews: Roger and Stuart Powers; and one great-niece, Christine Berg.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church in order to purchase a stained glass window.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Marilyn and her family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.