Eleanor Ruth (Holtzman) RICHARDSON MARKER

MARKER, HOLTZMAN, SWALES, RICHARDSON, STIVERS, STAHL, CAIN, ANDERLIK, GANGESTAD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/28/2009 at 13:24:31

Eleanor Ruth Marker, passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2009, at the Parkview Nursing and Rehab, after a lengthy battle with many illnesses. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, January 21, at the Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls. Burial was in the Fairview Cemetery, Waterloo. Eleanor was born at home on the farm in rural Arlington, Iowa, on March 20, 1941. She was the only child of Jesse Floyd and Esther Anna (Swales) Holtzman. Eleanor attended school in Arlington before graduating in 1958 from the Sumner High School. Immediately following high school, Eleanor married Leland Richardson at the Sumner United Methodist Church and lived in Waterloo. They divorced in 1985 and were the parents of six children. During that time, she worked doing home daycare for 15 years. She formed bonds with many of the 55 children she cared for that lasted until her death. She was also a teachers' associate for 26 years with the Waterloo School District at the Castle Hill and Edison Schools. She owned an in-home sewing and embroidery business for 26 years until she became sick in 2008. While attending an adult singles group, she formed a special bond with one gentleman. On August 17, 1991, Eleanor married J. Edward Marker at the Grace United Methodist Church in Waterloo. Eleanor was a member of the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls. She was a mentor to many of the children she worked around while with the school system.

She was preceded in death by her father; an infant son, Deland Richardson; an aunt, uncle, sister-in-law, Delores Stivers. She is survived by her mother, Esther of Waterloo; husband, Ed of Waterloo; five sons, Dean (Wendy) Richardson of Evansdale, Darrell (Donna) Richardson of Waterloo, David (Jodi) Richardson of Waterloo, Jeff (Debbie) Marker of Tuscola, Illinois and Jim (Kristi) Marker of Aiken, South Carolina; and two daughters, Tamie (Jerry) Stahl of Cedar Falls and Kristy (Jeff) Cain of Waterloo; two sisters-in-law, Irene (Dale) Anderlik of Riceville and Ella Gangestad of Eagle Grove; one brother-in-law, William (Sue) Richardson; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

January 29, 2009
Wright County Monitor, Clarion, IA