Taylor, Marion Ruth 1918 - 2011

TAYLOR, TONSFELDT, COOK

Posted By: Linda Mohning, Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/14/2011 at 09:40:33

CLEGHORN, Iowa – Marion R. Taylor, 92, of Cleghorn passed away Sunday, May 29, 2011, at Heartland Care Center in Marcus, Iowa.
Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Remsen, Iowa, with Rev. Craig Miller officiating. Burial will be in Remsen Community Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services Thursday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Earnest-Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus.
Marion Ruth Taylor, the daughter of Mabel (Cook) and August C. Tonsfeldt, was born Dec. 9, 1918, near Remsen in rural Plymouth County. She attended Remsen Country School for eight years and graduated from Le Mars (Iowa) High School in 1936. Marion furthered her education at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, where she earned bachelor of arts in English.
Considering that the country was in a time of war, Marion went to Los Angeles, Calif., to work in the office of Lockheed Aircraft instead of teaching. She encountered many interesting events while working in her office, which was located on the airfield.
While employed in California, Marion met her future husband Dale Phipps Taylor, He, too, was working at Lockheed Aircraft and was from the Midwest (South Dakota). On Jan. 16, 1948, the couple married at the “Wee Church of the Heather” in Glendale, Calif. Marion and Dale lived in the Santa Monica area, where Marion worked as an Avon lady and also at the Sears Department Store in Los Angeles.
In 1947, the couple were blessed with the birth of their only child, Douglas L. Taylor. In 1948, they made the decision to return to Iowa, where they engaged in farming near Marcus until they retired in 1974 and moved to Cleghorn.
At the age of 40, Marion was diagnosed with the debilitating disease of rheumatoid arthritis. Although it compromised her desired lifestyle, with grace and determination, Marion addressed and battled the disease the remainder of her life. With around-the-clock devotion, Dale tenderly and fully dedicated himself to Marion’s daily and nightly care, which enabled them many extended years together in their home.
Marion was a member of St. Paul Evangelical Church in Remsen and Order of the Eastern Star.
Some of Marion’s hobbies and interests included reading, especially the Bible and Healthy Living and Nutrition articles, flower gardening, decorating for the holidays and riding with Dale in the area parades in their restored 1926 Model T. Ford. Marion and Dale enjoyed traveling the United States, Mexico and Canada. Marion especially treasured the memories of their trips to the Black Hills, Hawaii and Lake Louise in Canada. She loved to swim in Lake Okoboki and while living in California, the Pacific Ocean. She looked forward to Doug’s vacation visits.
Marion became a resident of Heartland Care Center in March 2002. Her beloved Dale, faithfully visited her on a daily basis. They often chatted on the phone, even if to just say, “Good Night”.
Survivors include her son, Douglas and Linda Tayloar of Hunting Beach, Calif., her two granddaughters, Anne Marie and Laura Taylor of Huntington Beach; her sisters, Joyce Mercer of Fonda, Iowa; her brother, Clifford Tonsfeldt and his wife, LaVonne of Remsen; her sister-in-law, Deloris Tonsfeldt of Sprit Lake, Iowa; and many other relatives, friends and caregivers.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale P. Taylor in October 2010; her parents, August and Mabel Tonsfeldt; two brothers, Wallis Tonsfeldt and Murl Tonsfeldt and his wife, Lillian; and her brother-in-law, Robert Mercer.
Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. - family news clipping