Services were held Thursday, March 1, at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson for Marvel Carol Newell, 85, of Jefferson.
Words of comfort were offered by the Rev David Simonson of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Gary Haupert was soloist, accompanied by Danille Curtis. Honorary casket bearers were Denise Moranville, Heather Johnson, Jennifer Staley, Collin Raaz, Dillon Raaz, Mistie Schau, Rachel Aden, Brittany Day, Samantha Bergemmann and Chas Bergemann.
Casket bearers were Danny Moranville, Mark Fountain, Nate Raaz, Chad Turner, Darin Newell and Kyle Bergemann. Interment was at the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery.
Marvel’s joy in life was family. She was born in Scranton on August 18, 1932, to Josephine Fonken Bartley and Frank Bartley. The second oldest in a family of nine, Marvel learned to cherish her brothers and sisters early on, and stayed close to them all her life.
She passed this appreciation on to her own six children. She enjoyed decorating her home, enlisting one young daughter as her wallpaper assistant. Her home was always immaculate, and she took great pride in her children appearing that way, too. It’s not a myth that some mothers tell you to wear clean underwear in case you’re in an accident; Marvel actually checked on this when the need arose.
Marvel loved to crochet and made cherished scarves and blankets for family members and friends. Later in life, she became an equal opportunity basketball fan, and cheered on whatever team was winning. She was a fan of bowling, and called thrift stores “her mall.” To her many friends, she was loyal, sweet and sincere.
But no matter where life took Marvel, her favorite place was home, in the company of her family. She cherished her grandchildren and was deeply proud of the adults they’ve become.
Marvel Newell died Feb. 24, 2018, at Regency Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Jefferson. She was 85 years of age. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband Sam; son David; and her dear friend Joan Stofer.
Marvel is survived by her children Peggy (Dick) Moranville and Diane (Curt) Bergemann of Jefferson, Linda (Dave) Fountain of Grand Junction, Julie (Jerry) Raaz of Fort Collins, and Deb (John Benson) Turner of Dawson; daughter-In-law Colleen Newell of Jefferson; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; brother Paul Bartley of Boone; sister Franky (Jim) Anderson of Jefferson; brother-in-law Dick Leedom and sister-in-law Arlis Bartley, both of Jefferson; special friends Donna Blair and Betty Kuebler both of Jefferson, IA; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.
“We’ll miss your loving and proud strength every day, Mom.”
Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Lung Association.
