Obituary of Marilyn Ethel Rouner

Marilyn Ethel Rouner, 88, Iowa City, died June 8, 2016, surrounded by her loving family at Legacy Gardens senior living center in Iowa City. Marilyn was born in Springdale, Iowa, October 10, 1927, and graduated from Springdale High School in 1945, lettering in basketball. She married Harold Edwin Rouner in 1947 and raised four children. The first secretary of Robert Lucas Elementary School, beginning in 1962, Marilyn worked there for 27 years until she retired in 1989. She enjoyed traveling to Alaska, Hawaii and Europe, among other places. A member of St. Marks United Methodist Church, she volunteered for church fund raisers. She also volunteered at Mercy Hospital, delivering mail to patients, and at University of Iowa football, basketball and wresting events in the press box and rooms. She loved the Hawkeyes, traveling to away games with friends. She enjoyed participating in the Red Hat Society, lunching and crafting with her friends. Known for her expertise and widzardry at bridge and other card games, Marilyn was an avid contestant. She relished teaching and playing card games with her grandchildren. She loved to garden, read, and sew, and was an accomplished jigsaw puzzler. Throughout her life, she put up jams, garden produce and meats, and enjoyed baking pies and kolaches, especially for her grandchildren. Marilyn is survived by her children, Jane (Dick) Ledman, Loveland, Colorado; Donna (Phil Waggoner) Rouner, Fort Collins, Colorado; Steve (April) Rouner, Iowa City; and Alayne (Jerry) Overly, Hiawatha, Iowa. She is also survived by her grandchildren Matt (Cindy) Ledman, Broomfield, Colorado; Jennifer (Stephen) Miller, Fredericksburg, Virginia; Emma Waggoner, Fort Collins, Colorado; Jason (Nicole Truong) Keller, Springfield, Illinois; Andrew Rouner, Chicago; Austin Rouner, North Liberty, Iowa; Cody Rouner, Minneapolis; Dwayne (Robyn) Overly, Eldon, Missouri; Diana (Jerry) Reichenbach, Cedar Rapids; Becky Overly, Kansas City, Kansas; and Paul (Emily) Overly, Huntley, Illinois. She is also survived by 12 great grandchildren and 24 great-great grandchildren. She was survived by 8 of her 13 siblings, Margaret Seebeck, Tipton; Kathleen Murray, Berryville, Arkansas; Donald Stagg, Cedar Rapids; Kay Blink, Marion; Leslie Stagg, Nisswa, Minnesota; Mattie Lou (Gordon) Lewis, Lynnville, Iowa; Carol Ann (Daryl) Neitderhisar, North Liberty; and Wayne (Nancy) Stagg, Iowa City. Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, of Iowa City, her parents Lura and Ray Stagg, and siblings Elsie, Ruth, Keith, Billy and Howard. Marilyn’s family wishes to thank her companion of several years, Ron Detweiler, Iowa City, and the staffs at Legacy Gardens and Iowa City Hospice for their love, care and attention. Funeral services will be held at 10am Monday, June 13, 2016, at Gay& Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service where visitation will be on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Marilyn’s memory to Iowa City Hospice or St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be sent to her family through the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.