Obituary of Marilyn J Stewart

Marilyn J. Stewart, age 94 longtime resident of rural Oxford, died at her home surrounded by her family who have been caring for her with such love and compassion for a time as Marilyn’s health failed.

Marilyn J. Marquis was born June 10, 1931 in Marshalltown, Iowa the daughter of Albert and Victoria Virginia (Webert) Marquis.  Following graduation high school, she worked in the records department of the hospital there and later, two years at the Commercial Bank of Marshalltown.  In the fall of 1950 she met Jerry Stewart who was home on leave from the Navy, later they married on August 5th of 1951 in Marshalltown.

She and Jerry moved to North Liberty where they raised their four sons.  Marilyn worked outside the home in addition to caring for her family, first as a cook at the Clear Creek Elementary School in Madison Township of Johnson County.  Then 10 years at the former Uni Bank in Coralville; and retiring after 15 years at the First Trust and Savings Bank in Oxford.  Marilyn was a longtime member of the First Christian Church formerly in Iowa City, presently in Coralville.  She has been the matriarch of this Stewart family for as long as her sons can remember and something that she has always believed and lived her life by her faith and her family!

Marilyn loved spending time with her family and friends.  She loved to play any type of card games and tried to beat you at all of them.  She taught all her grandchildren the game of cribbage, which she and Jerry played often.  She always commented that it would help the grandchildren with their math skills. She always kept a score card of wins and losses; in fact, she commented that Jerry was ahead of her before he passed.

Her family includes her four sons and their families, Mark and his wife, Sandy (Gegenheimer) Stewart;  Sam Stewart; Eric and his wife, Theresa (Hoyt) Stewart; and Scott Stewart; 10 grandchildren, Luke (Taryn), Casey (Heather), Joseph (Jamie), Victoria (Seth), Sara (Jeremiah), Chad (Emily), Kate (Mike), Joshua (Debbie), Jacob (Meredith) and Audrey; 17 great-grandchildren, Caesen, Coulten, Joseph, Aiden, Shelby (Kaitlynn) Samuel, Savannah, Cybil, Jake (Sei), Kayla (Michael), Ali, Lincoln, Violet, Mason, James, Scarlett, and Ray. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Victoria Marquis, her husband, Jerry, siblings: Kenneth, Howard, Lois (Hammond), Arlene (Crane), Betty Lee and Roger; daughter-in-law Debra Ann Stewart.

Private family services with burial at the East York Township Cemetery, near the family home will take place.  To share a memory, thought or condolence with her family please go to the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.  Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for her family and services.