Ferguson, Marilyn Dawn

Marilyn Dawn Ferguson, 87, of Vinton, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010, at her home in Windsor Manor, Vinton, following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at First Christian Church in Vinton, with the Rev. Connie Wacht officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton.

Marilyn was born Feb. 13, 1923, in Vinton, Iowa, the daughter of Lester and Mary Ludden Powers. On June 20, 1943, Marilyn was united in marriage with Max Ferguson in Montgomery, Ala.

Marilyn is survived by one daughter, Wendy (Al) Dunkelberger of La Porte City; one son, Randy Ferguson of Maquoketa; five grandchildren, Catherine Blandi and Matthew Blanchard, both of Gibsonia, Pa., Dawn (Heath) Markland of Mount Auburn, Gail Zea of Vinton and Abby Ferguson of Dubuque; three stepgrandchildren, Mindy (Josh) Gray of Kearney, Mo., Curtis Schoenthaler of Iowa City and Dena Dunkelberger of La Porte City; two great-grandchildren, Callise Blandi of Gibsonia, Pa., and Lyndsay Dunkelberger of Mount Auburn; four stepgreat-grandchildren, Hunter and Beau Gray of Kearney, Mo., Josef Slocum of Seattle, Wash., and Marcus Slocum of Cedar Rapids; two sisters-in-law, Lorraine Powers of Omaha, Neb., and Ima Jean Smalley of Vinton; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one daughter, Mary Blanchard; five brothers, John, George, Eugene, Bert and Robert Powers; six sisters-in-law, Hazel, Betty and Ethel Powers, Jennie Hensing, LuRene Carlson and Zelma Ferguson; three brothers-in-law, George Hensing, Einar Carlson and Earle Ferguson; two nephews, Roger and Stuart Powers; and one great-niece, Christine Berg.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church in order to purchase a stained-glass window.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Marilyn and her family. Condolences may be left at