Phyllis M. Marak

Phyllis M. Marak

Swisher

Phyllis M. Marak, 82, of Swisher, passed away peacefully Friday, March 22, 2024, at Solon Nursing and Rehab. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW. Celebration of Life Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Brosh Chapel. Burial will take place in Anderson Cemetery.

Phyllis was born August 2, 1941, in Walford, the daughter of William and Helen (Schulte) Rotter. She graduated from Walford High School in 1959 and in 1960, she married the love of her life, Bernard Marak. They moved to a farm in Swisher, where they started their family. Phyllis was a stay-at-home mom, where she kept house, a large garden, loved to cook, and spent time with her children, Chris and Susan. In the winter months she could be found playing board games or cards with the kids, and in the summer months she would be outside mowing lawn, tending to her garden, playing catch with Chris, trying to show Susan how to jump on a pogo stick, or Chris and Susan’s favorite, spending time with them at the family pond. In 1979, Phyllis went to work as a bank teller with Swisher Trust and Savings Bank. Over the years, she held several positions and finally retiring after 34 years of service, as a Bank Officer.

Phyllis loved being a grandmother and always made sure that the holidays at grandma’s house would be memorable for the grandkids. Christmas was always her favorite where she would have a special grandkid’s decorating party with pizza, homemade decorations and Bernie dressing up as Santa. Phyllis collected various specialties over the years, from plates, bells, designer dolls, Barbie dolls, paper dolls and antiques. She enjoyed vacationing with Bernie and many times traveling with various friends. She loved going to flea markets and antique shops, searching for that perfect item to add to her collection.

Throughout her life, Phyllis always held a connection and love for all of her “dog children”; with her last being Greta, her special Pomeranian girl, that went to heaven to wait with Bernie, a couple of months ago.

She is survived by her son Chris (Penny) Marak and her daughter Susan (Kevin Jones) Marak Jones. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Adam, Kate, Jennifer, Justin and Joshua, three step-grandchildren, Casey, Natasha and Stephanie; seven great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; sister Shirley Schulte; sister-in-law Linda Rotter; brother-in-law Darrell (Carolyn) Marak, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bernard, her mother and father-in-law Martha and Joseph Marak, two sisters Mary and Donna, her brother Jim Rotter, several brothers-in-law, a niece and several nephews.

Memorials may be directed to the Jefferson Monroe Fire Department.

A special thank-you to Penny Marak for her thoughtful dedication caring for Phyllis for the last year and a half in mom’s home.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.