Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 28, at Abundant Life Ministries for Marilyn Ann Copeland, 85, of Jefferson.
The Rev Mary Jane Oakland, assisting priest at St John’s by the Campus Episcopal Church in Ames, offered words of comfort. Music included “Love Divine” recorded by Julie Tvedt, and Gary Haupert as soloist with Sheryl Sloan as accompanist.
Casket bearers were Samarah Vermeer, Simeon Lang, Elizabeth Wagner, Cameron Copeland, Samuel Tvedt, Erin Copeland, Nathan Tvedt and Rachel Tvedt. Interment was at the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery.
Marilyn Ann (Cogley) Copeland was born on July 8, 1934, the ninth of 13 children born to John Luke and Clara Figland Cogley at Grinnell. She attended rural schools until high school where she graduated from Grinnell High School in 1951. Marilyn then attended Iowa Teachers College (now UNI) in Cedar Falls, where she obtained her teaching degree in 1953. While teaching school in Davenport, she was introduced to a handsome young soldier just home from Korea. Their first date was June 5, 1954. On June 25, 1955, Marilyn was united in marriage with James H. Copeland of Davenport. To this marriage were born four children…Jody, James, Julie and John.
Jim and Marilyn made their home in several communities in the early years… Davenport, Indianapolis, IN, Fort Dodge, then finally in Jefferson, beginning in 1961.
Marilyn was a very dedicated community servant, and was a co-recipient of the ABC Award, along with her husband Jim. She was active in many organizations including the Jefferson Garden Club where she was a founder of the Tour of Homes event. She was also a past president of PEO Chapter CZ, Beta Tau Delta sorority, Soroptimist Woman of the Year, Culture Club, and Ingleside Club, among others. Marilyn was extremely active in AFS (American Field Service), hosting exchange students from India, Argentina, Japan, Russia, Tunisia, Germany, Switzerland and Ecuador.
Marilyn was extremely active in her church, Trinity Episcopal of Carroll. She served on the Diocesan Committee and was a lay reader in the church. She also served as the National Chairman for the women’s auxiliary of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.
Marilyn served her family faithfully going wherever she was needed to assist her children in home remodeling, caring for new babies, attending sporting events, etc. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren and excited to see photos of and receive visits from her great-grandchildren.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents and nine siblings: sisters Betty, Eleanor, Bernice, Avis, Barb, and brothers Clarence, James, Keith and Allen.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, James Copeland; children Jody (Terry) Lang of Jefferson, James M. Copeland of Des Moines, Julie (Bill) Tvedt of Oskaloosa and John Copeland of Des Moines; grandchildren, Samarah (Nathan) Vermeer, Simeon Lang, Cameron Copeland, Erin Copeland, Elizabeth (Jesse) Wagner, Sam (McKennan) Tvedt, Nathan Tvedt and Rachel Tvedt; and great- grandchildren Truett Vermeer, and Ellie and Titus Wagner. A fourth great-grandchild is due to arrive this week. Marilyn leaves behind three siblings; Joan Hopkinson of Savannah, GA, Pat Lang of Grinnell, and LeRoy Cogley of Green Valley, AZ.
The family was assisted by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson.
