KOTHENBEUTEL, Marlene 1935-2011

KOTHENBEUTEL, PHIPPS, MCKEAG

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/25/2015 at 19:11:09

Marlene Joan Phipps Kothenbeutel, 76 of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 at the Grundy Care Center. The family will receive friends at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center on Friday Nov. 11, 2011 from noon until 2:00 pm. Graveside services following for family members only please.

She was born in Marshalltown, Iowa on July 31, 1935 and was the daughter of the late Leland F. Phipps and Inez M. McKeag Phipps. She was a graduate of Marshalltown High School.

On September 5, 1954, she was united in marriage to Arlo Ralph Kothenbeutel at the First Methodist Church of Marshalltown.

Three of their children, Mark, Christy and Scott were born in Marshalltown. In 1959 they moved to Ames, Iowa where they were blessed with David and R. Michael and in 1965 moved to Dubuque, Iowa where Cynthia Ann was born. Marlene worked for JaMar Pattern Company in Dubuque as their bookkeeper.

In the Spring of 1978 Marlene and Ralph purchased half of the Grundy Register and moved to Grundy Center. Ralph was in charge of advertising and Marlene took care of the books. In April of 1994 they became the sole owners of the Grundy Register and worked until they retired in 1998 when they sold the business.

Marlene had a passion for bowling and served on the Women's Bowling Assoc. Board of Dubuque and Junior Bowling Assoc. Board of Dubuque. She also coached Junior Bowling. Four of their children were bowlers and newspaper carriers in Dubuque. Marlene joined two bowling leagues when she moved to Grundy Center and in the spring of 2010 she retired after having bowled for 51 years. In addition Marlene loved to play cards and golfed at the Town & Country Golf Club where she was proud of her hole in one.

She is survived by her husband Ralph of 57 years, and a large and loving family including her sister, Roberta Carothers of Naperville, IL, three sons, Mark Kothenbeutel and his wife Kris of Cedar Rapids, Scott Kothenbeutel and his wife Cynthia of Suwanee GA, , R. Michael Kothenbeutel of Grundy Center and daughters Christy Benoit and her husband Pierre of Newport News VA, Cynthia Powers and her husband Kenn of Williamsburg KY, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Marlene was preceded in death by her son David Kothenbeutel.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)