Beyer, Marvel Ann (Brown)

Marvel Ann (Brown) Beyer, 91, of Iowa City, died at her home Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012. Private family services will be held Tuesday in Iowa City, with a public graveside service scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein, with the Rev. Thomas Braac officiating.

A memorial fund has been established in her memory.

Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web at .

Marvel Ann Brown was born Aug. 3, 1921, in Westside, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas E. and Mabel H. (Lamp) Brown. She graduated at the age of 16 from Westside High School in 1937. Prior to marriage, Marvel worked in Westside and Storm Lake, Iowa. On March 29, 1948, she was united in marriage to Virgil G. Beyer at the St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Carroll, Iowa. The couple moved to Cresco where Marvel worked in the Howard County Extension Office and later in the local dress shop. She also volunteered teaching English as a second language to area refugees while living in Denison. The couple and in time their family had lived in Clear Lake, Mason City, Denison, Storm Lake, Carroll, Lidderdale and Cresco, Iowa, before moving to Oelwein in their retirement. She lived in Oelwein for nearly 20 years. In 1999, she moved to Iowa City to be closer to other family.

Her interests included reading, gardening, politics and above all else, her family, which includes her seven children, David Beyer (Janelle) of Snohomish, Wash., Jane Aldrich (Mike) of Oelwein, Mary Alterman (Marty) of Burnsville, Minn., Debra Pelinski (Stephen) of Newark, Del., Tim Beyer of Rochester, Minn., Amy Beyer (Mark Dramstad) of Iowa City and Nancy Beyer (Chuck Henderson) of Iowa City; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and her sister, Ardith Sporledor of Carroll.

Marvel was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil on May 13, 1989; two brothers; and two sisters.

Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Marvel's family and her services.

Published in The Gazette Oct. 16, 2012.