Marion Kieler

MARION KIELER

Dubuque

Marion Kieler, 96, of

Dubuque, passed away

Sunday, May 25, 2014, at Stonehill Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Dwayne Thoman officiating. Entombment will be in Resurrection Garden Mausoleum, Mount Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 30, at Hoffmann-Schneider Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 1640 Main St., Dubuque, where there will be a wake service at 6 p.m..

On Dec. 23, 1917, on a farm between Sumner and Fredricksburg, Iowa, an early Christmas present was delivered to Helen (Gill) and Leslie Fay. Their firstborn child, Marian Louise Fay, entered the world. Marian spent her first five years on the farm enjoying the country life and helping feed the chickens, milk the cows and bring wood to the stove.

Marian graduated from Sumner High School in 1935. She wrote in her commencement memories that she would like to be a "leader in the business world." After graduating, Marian moved to Dubuque and lived at the Redstone while she attended Bayless Business College. She then became the first woman ever to be employed at the American Trust and Savings Bank, fulfilling her goal to be a leader in the business world.

Marian soon became attracted to Irvin Kieler for his good looks and fine character. She immediately set her sights on him, but commented that it was hard to get him to give up his bowling friends. On a trip to see her parents, Irv stopped along the highway and gave Marian a diamond, asking her to marry him.

On Oct. 7, 1941, Irv and Marian were married at St. Patrick's church. Marian and Irv had five children and raised their family while enjoying picnics at Eagle Point Park, nights of euchre, Thanksgivings with their cousins and trips to Grandma's house.

When visiting Grandma's house the grandchildren were always greeted at the door with a hug and kiss from Marian. She challenged them to games of Scrabble and took them to bingo and the market. Some of the best memories were what came out of her oven. Grandma made delicious gingersnap cookies, warm cinnamon raisin bread, homemade applesauce and made-from-scratch pies.

Marian gave back to the community as much as she did to her family. In 1973, she began working in the Registrar's Office at Loras College and worked there until 1983. She volunteered at Stonehill Care Center for years, as well as gave countless hours to Sacred Heart Parish. In fact, she was referred to at one time as "the Mother Teresa of Sacred Heart." Marian was a lay member of the Order of Secular Franciscans for 60 years, which was an honor to her.

Just as we have been nourished by the food Marian provided for us, each of us has been nourished through the gift of her life. Thank you for all the wonderful memories, Mom and Grandma! We will miss you!

Surviving are a daughter, Kathleen (Jeffrey) Schumacher of Cedar Rapids; four sons, Thomas (Beverly) Kieler of Northborough, Mass., Michael (Rebecca) Kieler of Avon, Colo., David (Tatyana) Kieler, of Cedar Rapids and Steven (Jill) Kieler of St. Donatus; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Irv; a granddaughter, Sarah Kieler; two sisters, Joyce and Jean; and two brothers, Don and Duane.

In lieu of flowers,

memorials may be made

to Stonehill Care Center.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

www.hoffmannschneider

funeralhomes.com.