Lelah Mae Marlin

December 18, 1927 - August 15, 2019

Lelah Mae Marlin, age 91, of Albia, passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2019, at Monroe Care Center in Albia. Lelah was born on December 18, 1927, in Rathbun, IA, to Lyndon Luse and Celia Janet (Broshar) McDanel. She grew up and attended school in Moravia, graduating with the Class of 1945. On December 22, 1945, she married John Henry Marlin Jr. at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Albia. To this union, 4 children were born, Thomas, Terri, Victoria, and Steven. Lelah and John shared 73 years of marriage prior to her passing. Lelah managed Spurgeons, a women’s clothing and candy store, in Albia, before going to work for First Iowa State Bank for 30 years where she retired as Auditor. Lelah was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Albia and was very active in the Women’s Group there. She assisted with kitchen responsibilities; Action, Education & Interpretation; Social Action; taught Sunday School for 3-5 year olds; Staff and Pastor Parish relations; served on the Trust Committee and the Communion Committee; was President of Martha Circle; served on the Memorial Committee and was involved in the Quilter’s group. Lelah was also on the board for the Carnegie-Evans Albia Public Library. Lelah and John have wintered in Weslaco, Texas for 18 years. They enjoyed traveling, including to Hawaii and the World’s Fair. She was a member of the Dancing Grannies and won numerous awards with the group. Lelah and John also enjoyed weekly card games with their friends. Lelah is survived by her husband, John; 2 children, Terri Lee (Steve) Kelly and Steven Eugene (Carol) Marlin; her grandchildren, John (Ligita) Ragan, Sharon Ragan, Victoria (Todd) Pae, Heather (Shawn) Etcher, Christopher Marlin, Brian (Amy) Kelly, Eric (Angela) Kelly, Shannon (Jason) Krueger, Elizabeth (Brandon) Hennefer, Rachel (Jason) Cross, Sarah (Jim) Oman, James Ferreter, and Jennifer; and 24 great grandchildren. Lelah is also survived by a son-in-law, Bill (Mary) Ferreter; a sister-in-law, Marilyn (Ronald) Kinneman McDanel; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Allen, in infancy; a daughter, Victoria Lynn Ferreter; her parents, Lyndon and Celia McDanel; and her brothers, Laverne (Dorothy), Wendell (Pat), Ronald “Bud”, and Clell (Patricia) McDanel. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on Monday, August 19, 2019, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Lelah's family present from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. to greet family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Albia, with Pastor Roger Henry officiating. Burial will follow services in Oak View Cemetery in Albia. Memorials may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church in Albia or to the Albia Public Library.