Gelena Ruth Marsh

MARSH, SCHNELL, FIFE, STOFFERAHN, NEUBAUER

Posted By: Ida Morse (email)
Date: 7/28/2006 at 14:14:52

Kuhn Funeral Home Obituaries
Earlham, Dexter and Redfield, Iowa
December 2005

Gelena Ruth Marsh

Gelena R. Marsh passed from this life on December 28 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

Gelena was born in Palo Alto County, Iowa to George R. Schnell and Peryl L. (Fife) Schnell on May 14, 1928. She went to country school in Sac County and later attended high school in Ruthven, graduating in 1946. She attended the Iowa Lutheran School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse in 1949. She worked many years at the Dexter Hospital and was Director of Nursing at the Earlham Nursing Home prior to her retirement. Her family and friends will remember Gelena as a first responder, always equipped and able to accomplish very much with a safety pin or a band aid.

Gelena was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church in Dexter where she served as Sunday School teacher, member of the Zion Ladies Aid, and president of the Adair zone of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Gelena recently enjoyed participating as a member of the vocal music Praise Team. She also became interested in quilting in later years and made many beautiful quilts for members of her family.

Gelena married George Marsh on September 10, 1950 in the Zion Lutheran Church in Dexter. Most of their married life was spent farming in the Bear Creek neighborhood northeast of Dexter. In 1990, they retired from the farm and moved to their home in Dexter. They spent many of their winters in Arizona since then.

Gelena’s parents preceded her in death as well as a sister, Lula, and a brother, Richard. Survivors include her husband George of Dexter, a brother, Duane Schnell of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and a sister, Mildred Stofferahn of Mesa, Arizona. Also surviving are five children, son Timothy and wife Dawn of Ankeny, son Stanley of Earlham, son Jeffrey and wife Jennifer of Algona, daughter Cindi Neubauer and husband Bill of Cumming and daughter Heidi of Waukee. Seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter also survive.

Note: Dexter Cemetery, Dexter, Iowa