Obituaries : Marjorie Lorraine Degner

Marjorie Lorraine Degner, 93, passed away Friday, March 5, 2021, at Westbrook Acres Nursing Home in Gladbrook from natural causes with her daughters by her side. Private family services will be held with Rev. Brian Channel officiating. Burial will be in the Dysart Cemetery.

Marjorie was born July 23, 1927, on the family farm near West Union, IA to William and Marjorie Ash Billmeyer. She attended country school through eighth grade and graduated from West Union High School in 1945. She received her teacher's certification from Iowa State Teachers College in 1947. On August 29, 1948, she married Homer Degner in West Union. Marjorie taught 5th grade and junior high in Vinton and Dysart. She also assisted her husband in farming. Marjorie enjoyed reading, embroidery, traveled to 48 of the 50 states, and crossword puzzles. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren playing board games. She was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Dysart and later the Traer United Methodist Church in Traer.

In 1980 she moved from the farm near Dysart to Traer where she was employed at the Traer Library and Frank's Shoe Store until her retirement in 1987.

She is survived by her daughters, Barbara (Ray) Bookmeier, Vinton and Sharon (Russell) Speirs, Traer; her sister, Ellen Ruroden, Dubuque; four grandchildren, Anita (Jason) Yessak, Oelwein, Kevin (Michelle) Bookmeier, Vinton, Amy Speirs, Traer and Sara (Neil) O'Brien, Traer; seven great-grandchildren, Jordan, Marissa and Grayson Yessak, Matthew Bookmeier, Avery Weisinger and twins, Liberty and Ella O'Brien.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Homer, in 1979, and her brother, William.

A memorial fund has been established and the family will direct memorials to Westbrook Acres Nursing Home in Gladbrook.

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