TJADEN, Marion Margaret (Draheim) 1917-2007

TJADEN, DRAHEIM

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/4/2010 at 13:23:47

CHARLES CITY, IOWA - Marion M. Tjaden, 89, of 1914 Cedar Crest Lane in Charles City, IA died Tuesday (June 19, 2007) at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, (June 25, 2007) at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 200 S. Main St. in Charles City with the Rev. Dennis Niezwaag officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City.

The family will greet relatives from 5 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St. in Charles City. The visitation will continue on Monday at the church, one hour prior to Marion’s service.

Condolences, stories or thoughts may be sent to the family in the care of Fullerton Funeral Home on line at www.fullertonfh.com.

Marion Margaret Tjaden was born on August 30, 1917 in Charles City, the daughter of Gus and Minnie Draheim. Marion was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church where she remained active throughout her lifetime. She attended rural school until acceptance to High School in Charles City and achieved a teaching certificate by her graduation in 1935. She taught rural school for several years before her marriage to Leonard E. Tjaden on August 16, 1939.

In the spring after their wedding the couple moved to the farm which had been owned by Marion’s father, together Leonard and Marion worked the land and raised three children; Larry, Dean and Christie. Marion, a small but mighty woman, always worked side by side with Leonard, even after they moved off the farm in 1993 until Leonard passed away in July of 1997. The family homestead is now the home of the couple’s youngest son, Dean and his wife Linda Tjaden.

While on the farm Marion lived an active life, assisting with fieldwork and daily chores with their cattle, hog and chicken operation. She fed her family with foods from her garden and decorated their home and yard with flowers she raised. She was as handy on a tractor or combine as she was baking a pie or braiding her daughter’s hair. Even after their move into town she remained actively involved in farm operations, in fact Marion was spotted combining corn in the field through fall of 2006. The family operation is now managed by her sons, Larry and Dean and her grandson Scott Tjaden of Cedar Rapids.

Marion’s activities included charter membership in her Double Dozen Club, serving on Pork and Beef Producer groups in later years, volunteering at the Treasure Chest and the Hospital Auxiliary. She was also an active member of St. John Church, she was a circle member and cut, sewed and stitched many quilt blocks, provided meals and other member services rolls until the day of her death. Marion was born an only child yet she was happiest when working to help others. Her home, like her heart was open, and committed to loving and serving others first.

Marion is survived by her two sons and their wives; Larry and Mary Tjaden, Dean and Linda Tjaden all of Charles City and her daughter Christie Tjaden of Euless, Texas; five grandchildren, five step grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, Bonnie and Leonard, her husband of 58 years.

Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home and Cremation Services,