Marvin L. Ward (1918-2011)

WARD

Posted By: Padriag
Date: 1/4/2012 at 15:37:40

Published in Villisca Review

Marvin L. Ward

Funeral services for Marvin L. Ward were held on Thursday, November 3, 2011, at the Villisca United Methodist Church followed by burial in the Villisca Cemetery. Pastor Gordon M. Scott officiated. Marvin Ward, 86, of Villisca died October 30, 2011 at the Villisca Good Samaritan Center. Memorials are suggested to the Strand Lutheran Church or the Villisca Good Samaritan Society.

Marvin LeRoy Ward, the son of Freeman LeRoy and Hazel Rebecca (Vallier) Ward, was born on December 30, 1924 in Pottawattamie County, Neola, Iowa. He was raised on the same farm where he was born, being the third generation living on the “home place.” He attended the rural school near to his home and then to Beebeetown where he graduated from Beebeetown High School in 1944. After graduation he entered the U.S. Army and served from 1944-1946 in the India-Burma Theatre, World War II, stationed in India. After being discharged from the Army, he returned home to farm with his parents until his marriage.

Marvin was united in marriage to Elizabeth Louise “Betty” Marsh December 10, 1949, at the Villisca United Methodist Church. Their marriage was blessed by three children: Gregory, Kurt, and Jan Denise. After their marriage, the couple farmed near Underwood, Iowa. In 1951 they moved to the Guss area south of Villisca and in 1955 they moved to their farm in the Strand area of Adams County. Marvin turned the farming over to son Gregory in 1984 because of health concerns. Later when Greg died, the land was rented out. Marvin and Betty remained in their farm home until December 1997 when they moved to their current home in Villisca.

Marvin was a member of Strand Lutheran Church having served on the church council, many different committees, and was a trustee on the Strand Cemetery board. He also served on the Hackle Barney Watershed and the Rockdale School Board in Adams County. He was an OsGold-Asgrow Seed salesman for forty years. He liked to make things. His hobbies were woodworking and metal work. Marvin was a farmer and his interest in agriculture never wavered.

In 2007 Marvin moved to the Villisca Good Samaritan Center where he received excellent care. He loved his family and was still able to enjoy all their special times together. Marvin and Betty were blessed to celebrate their 61st Wedding Anniversary in 2010. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, son Gregory in 1986, brother Jack Ward, nephew John Ward, and niece Deborah Ward. He is survived by his wife Betty Ward of Villisca; son Kurt Ward of Glendale, Arizona; daughter Jan Denise (Bill) Barr of Villisca; daughter-in-law Jona Ward (Randy) Nelson of Villisca; six grandchildren: Shane (Kara) Ward of Kansas City, Missouri, Renae (Steve) Sunquist of Stanton, Melissa (C.J.) Dolph of Villisca, Brandie M. (Reed) Good of Denver, Colorado, Brice Blank of Perry, Oklahoma, and Brian (Penni) Blank of Ora Valley, Arizona; twelve great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Shirley Ward of Omaha, Nebraska; many other relatives and friends.