Atwood, Marie Lucille

Marie Lucille Atwood, 90, of Sigourney, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 15, 2010. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 19, at English River Church of the Brethren near South English. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Holm Funeral Home, Sigourney, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m.

Marie was born near South English, Iowa, on April 30, 1920, the daughter of Olan Rufus and Mary Pearl (Kirkpatrick) Dyson. She grew up near Keswick and was a member of the Adams Hustlers 4-H Club. She graduated Keswick High School in 1937 and received her teaching certificate from Iowa Teachers State College in Cedar Falls. She taught at Monkey Den, Lick Skillet, and Garibaldi country schools in Keokuk County.

Marie was united in marriage to Arley Ellsworth Atwood on March 15, 1942, at English River Church of the Brethren near South English. Arley and Marie made their home and farmed northwest of Sigourney after he was discharged from the service. Marie was a farmwife, homemaker, 4-H leader, and faithful member and deacon of English River Church of the Brethren.

She lived in her home on the farm until May 7, 2010, when she entered Manor House Care Center in Sigourney due to declining health after 2½ years of kidney dialysis.

She is survived by her children, Neda (Chuck) Spiegel of Sigourney, Duane (Cindy) Atwood of Sigourney, Nadine (Kenny) Vance of Melrose, Wilma (Eric) Donhowe of Des Moines, Gwen (Bob) Etter of Sigourney and Sharon (Nathan) Fritchen of Ollie; 12 grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 11 stepgreat-grandchildren; her brother and his wife, Glenn and Dorothy Dyson; sisters-in-law, Fern Dyson and Jeri Dyson; and many nieces and nephews.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Arley, on July 21, 1992; her parents; brothers and sisters, Oral Dyson, Anna Winegarden, Margie Schauf, Eldon Dyson, Helen Jackson, Lester Dyson and Hilda Winegarden; and stepgrandson, Charles Spiegel.

A memorial has been established.