Marlys Joan Jacobs

Marlys J. Jacobs, 78, of Waukon, IA, died Friday, April 15, 2016, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 19th, at 11:00 AM at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Monday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Marlys Joan Jacobs was born January 31, 1938, in Floyd County, IA, at the Floyd County Memorial Hospital. She was the daughter of Conrad Carl Schroeder and Velma Daisy (Otto) Grandy Schroeder. They lived on a farm north of Cowell, IA, and she attended rural school and the Cowell School. Marlys had a special pony named Dolly that she rode a lot including to school. Her family moved to a farm near Plainfield, IA, in Butler County, where she attended rural school and then graduated from Plainfield High School. Marlys was active in chorus, plays, and playing post guard in basketball. She then attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. While in Waverly, Marlys worked at the Waverly canning factory and at a supermarket before accepting a job at Nashua State Bank; she was a bookkeeper and teller.

On February 9, 1958, she married Merrill Rae Jacobs at Pleasant Valley Church in rural Clarksville, IA. Marlys became a farm homemaker and a mother of five children. The couple farmed near Plainfield for several years before moving to Shell Rock, IA. In 1973, they moved to a farm near Waukon, IA. Marlys worked a variety of jobs after moving to Waukon including: cooking at a Lansing, IA, senior citizens meal site, driving a transit van, and working at Pamida. For almost 15 years, Marlys was known as the "donut lady" at Casey's General Store in Waukon; she retired in 2012.

She was a member of Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon. Marlys also previously belonged to the Nashua Saddle Club. She enjoyed nature and liked walking or horse riding through the woods, watching the spring water flow over the waterfalls, looking at wildflowers and the rustling colored leaves, bird watching, and hunting mushrooms. Marlys liked gardening, baking, and canning; she canned 90% of the fruit, vegetables, and meat they ate. An avid reader, she enjoyed picking up a good book especially if it was a Western or mystery. Family and friends were important to her; she liked to entertain and often had weekend visitors. Holidays were special when family and friends attended as well.

Marlys is survived by her husband Merrill of Waukon; her five children: Joan (Scott) Schmidt, Stuart (Theresa) Jacobs, Trent (Lori) Jacobs, Hope (Brian) Runge, and Lane (Abby) Jacobs; eight grandchildren: Amber (Kevin) Possell, Justin Halverson, Thayer and Bren Jacobs, Ryan (Sally), Danyce, and Kelsey Jacobs, and Renee Runge; seven great-grandchildren: Finley, Kyler, Elliott, Eastyn, Mia, Kira, and Jackson; step-grandchildren: James Schmidt and Carrie Khouj; two brothers: Richard (Alice) Grandy and Alvin (Arlyce) Schroeder; and her nieces and nephews: Angie Schroeder, Andy Schroeder, and Amy Terrill, and their spouses and families.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Milton Grandy.

Casketbearers are Ryan, Thayer, Bren, Danyce, and Kelsey Jacobs, Renee Runge, Amber Possell, and Justin Halverson.