Nuzum, Marilyn Jean

Marilyn Jean Nuzum, 81, of Peoria, Ariz., formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Oct. 27, 2011, following a short illness. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, in the Queen of All Saints Chapel at All Saints Catholic Church. The Rev. David O'Connor will officiate. Visitation will begin after 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church. Entombment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Surviving are her husband, Melvin Nuzum; her children, Sherrie Chittenden and Suzanne Lehmkuhl of Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Marlene Dostal and her husband, Arnold Dostal; and her stepchildren, Sheila Latcham and her husband, LaVern, of Grinnell and Rebecca Cook of Virginia. Marilyn was fortunate to have three grandchildren, including Angela Pukke and Shawn Chittenden of Newport Beach, Calif., and four great-grandchildren, Presley and Nikko Pukke, Newport Beach, Calif., Hayden Chittenden Fiore, Phoenix, Ariz., and Kyle Chittenden, of Newport Beach, Calif.

Marilyn Jean Nuzum was born May 26, 1930, in Protivin, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Anne (Yirkovsky) Huber. She was united in marriage to Melvin A. Nuzum on July 22, 1972, in Cedar Rapids. She worked with her husband at several auto dealerships, where she served as business manager. In 1988, she and Melvin retired and moved to Sun City West, Ariz., and enjoyed the sun, golf and traveling.

Marilyn was very generous and donated to many charities.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend who will be greatly missed.

Please leave a message, tribute or memory to Marilyn's family on the Web page,   under obituaries, or you may write to Sherrie at

 or Suzanne at .

Published Nov. 3, 2011, in The Gazette