Maiers, Marilyn J.

Marilyn J. Maiers, 81, of Bellevue, peacefully passed away Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at Mill Valley Care Center. Funeral services for Marilyn will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bellevue, by the Rev. Father Phillip Kruse. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from  5 to 8 p.m. Monday and  9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hachman Funeral Home in Bellevue.

Marilyn (Adrian) Maiers, daughter of Alphonse and Leona (Redman) Adrian, was born Aug. 16, 1932, in Bridgeport, Wis. She married James W. Maiers on June 3, 1953. He passed away in 1998.

Marilyn started her career as a librarian with the Bellevue Community School District. For many years she was known as the “library lady” at the grade school. Following retirement, she and her husband James ventured into their next career and longtime dream of opening an old fashioned ice cream parlour in 1986. Affectionately known as Grandpa's Parlour, the ice cream parlour resides on Riverview Street at the past residence of her parents, Alphonse and Leona Adrian. After several successful years of hand-dipped ice cream cones, sodas and floats, Marilyn retired once again (although she kept a strong presence at the parlour). The parlour remains a staple in the Bellevue community under the ownership of Marilyn's daughter, Kristi Maiers and Eric Flatjord.

Marilyn had a light hearted sense of humor, always joking with her children and grandchildren. As an avid bowler her entire life, she taught her grandsons the fundamentals of the game, often picking them up on snowy days to go bowling at Horizon Lanes. Her legacy will continue with the Annual Maiers Open Bowling Tournament started several years ago and now an annual tradition. As a strong Hawkeye fan, the game could always be watched at Grandma's. And of course with a career as a librarian, reading was second nature to her. She was considered a regular at the Bellevue Public Library.

Those left to honor her memory include her three daughters, Sheila (Clete) Heim and Lynne (Randy) Hager, both of Bellevue, and Kristi (Eric Flatjord) Maiers of Cedar Rapids; six grandsons, Nick (Tonya) and Jared (Kristy Wemett) Heim, Josh (Karen Leichty) and Travis (Amanda) Merta and Colin and Trevor Hager; three great-grandchildren, Macy and Halle Heim and Jaxsen Merta; and two very special cousins, Mary and John (Paula) Burke.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and brother, Gene Adrian.

Marilyn's family would like to extend a big thank you to the caring nurses and staff at Mill Valley Care Center, Bellevue Medical Associates and Mercy Hospital. A special note of gratitude to the tireless Bellevue Ambulance volunteers that she trusted her life with when she took her limo rides to the hospital.

Published Jan. 6, 2014 in The Gazette