Hunzelman, Marjorie Elizabeth (1922-2018)

HUNZELMAN, MURRAY, WISE, REGIS

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/18/2021 at 17:36:23

Marjorie Hunzelman
December 24, 1922 - November 4, 2018

Marjorie Hunzelman, age 95, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Sunday, November 4, 2018, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake.

Marjorie Elizabeth Murray Hunzelman was born in Buffalo Center, Iowa, on December 24, 1922, to Ray Murray and Viola Wise Murray. She lived on the family farm near Buffalo Center until 1932 when her family moved to Des Moines after her father was elected Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. Thus, in 1940, Marjorie graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. Next, she completed a degree in journalism at Drake University in 1944. While attending Drake, she joined the Delta Gamma sorority and became the first woman elected Student Body President.

On December 23, 1943, she married Willard James (Bill) Hunzelman in Des Moines. They had a very brief honeymoon since Bill had to report to his ship (the USS Murray) in January. Following her college graduation, she moved to California on the assumption that when the Murray, assigned to the Pacific fleet, returned to the US it would arrive in California. Since the Murray did dock in San Francisco for overhaul in December 1944, she and Bill were able to spend Christmas together.

After World War II, she and Bill lived in Des Moines where all three of their children were born. Not until 1952 did the family move to Storm Lake when Bill opened his CPA practice. She was very active in the Storm Lake United Methodist Church and was a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader. In the 1960s, she became the city librarian for Storm Lake and was the librarian when the old Carnegie Library (now Santa’s Castle) closed and the new library opened.

Of note, she and Bill helped start what is now known as the 4th of July Star Spangled Spectacular. Serving as the commodores for several years, they participated in the fund raising for this event. In addition, Marjorie played an active role in many other organizations in Storm Lake including the United Methodist Women, PEO, the American Association of University Women, and the Questers not to mention several bridge clubs.

She is survived by her son, Murray James (Lynn) Hunzelman, of Dallas, Texas; her sister, Madelon (Andrew) Regis, of Pamona, New York; her daughter-in-law, Katherine Jane Hunzelman, of West Des Moines, Iowa; as well as six grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her daughter, Karen Elizabeth Hunzelman; her son, Marshall John Hunzelman; and her brother, Charles John Murray.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will take place for one hour before the service at the church. The family encourages everyone who attends the funeral to wear red clothing. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the United Methodist Church, 211 East 3rd Street, Storm Lake, Iowa 50588; or the Hunzelman Scholarship c/o Buena Vista University, 610 West 4th Street, Storm Lake, Iowa 50588. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes, Storm Lake, Iowa, 2018.

Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
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