PERKINS, Marlus I.

PERKINS, LAMBERT, JULSEN, JACOBS, SNIDER, BROWN

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/13/2013 at 23:20:35

Marlus I. (LAMBERT) PERKINS was born on the Lambert farm north of
Clear Lake, on Feb. 4, 1911, to Earl and Mette (JULSEN) Lambert.

She died on Oct. 5, 2008, at home. A celebration of life will be
held on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m. with lunch to follow. The memorial will
take place at the First Congregational Church in Clear Lake.

In early childhood she attended the Lambert Rural School and then
entered the fifth grade at Clear Lake Public School. She drove a pony and buggy
to school until entering eighth grade when her Grandfather Lambert presented
her with a Buick Roadster straight eight automobile. At that time no driver’s
license was required.

In high school she was active in athletics and student groups. Marlus
graduated from high school in 1929 with a Normal Training Certificate, which
qualified her to teach in rural schools.

She taught in several rural schools where there was no running water
and only outdoor toilets, drinking water was carried from home, coal fired
heating had to be restarted after each weekend, and the children and teacher
brought their own cold lunch.

On May 2, 1934, Marlus was united in marriage to John H. PERKINS, her
high school sweetheart, in the First Congregational Church, Clear Lake, by the
Rev. W.B. Milne.

In 1936, they purchased the PERKINS Dairy from John’s parents and
moved it from the farm to 114 North 4th St. in Clear Lake. When her husband
enlisted in the Air Force, during WWII, Marlus managed the dairy for two years.
She was one of the few women who managed a business in the absence of her
husband at that time.

Marlus was secretary of John PERKINS, Inc., the erosion control
business that she and John ran until their retirement.

Marlus was a 50-year member of Eastern Star, Park Chapter No. 35. She
served in various offices and was Worthy Matron in 1942. She was president of
Woman’s Club in 1952. Additionally, she was past president of Lakeview Club and
Today’s Club. P.E.O. played a significant role in the life of Marlus. She dearly
loved people, especially her P.E.O. sisters.

At the age of 78, she fulfilled a long time dream of attending
college when she took several art classes, including painting and drawing at
North Iowa Area Community College. During retirement she took great joy in her
painting and photography until failing eyesight curtailed that activity. She
created the cover and the illustrations in the book “Of Frogs and Friends” which
John wrote and they published in 1997.

In 1993 Marlus and John were honored on Founders Day of First
Congregational Church as “The Perfect Team for Getting the Job Done.”

In 1999 Marlus was honored as Citizen of the Year for Family,
Community and Church by the Clear Lake Rotary Club.

She is survived by her husband, John; daughter, Sandra Kaye SNIDER,
Wichita, Kan.; daughter-in-law, Dr. Jane M. PERKINS, Chicago, Ill; three
grandchildren, Jeffrey H. (B.J.) PERKINS, Eden Prairie, Minn., Elizabeth
PERKINS-BROWN (James), Boise, Idaho, and Meredith PERKINS, Chicago; two
great-grandchildren, Anthony and Nicolas PERKINS.

She was preceded in death by her son, J. Bruce PERKINS in 1998; her parents;
and her sister, Jeanyce JACOBS.