Marvin A. Rickels

Marvin A. Rickels

Monticello

Marvin A. Rickels, 82, died Monday, April 10, 2023, at the Accura Health Care Center, Cascade with his family by his side.

Funeral services will be held at noon, Monday, April 17, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Monticello, with interment at Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 to 11:45 a.m. at the church. Pastor Caleb Schewe will officiate at the services. Goettsch Funeral Home has taken Marvin and his family into their care. By visiting goettschonline.com, you may share your thoughts, memories and condolences with Marvin’s family and sign the online guest book.

Marvin was born at the Anamosa Hospital on Aug. 17, 1940. The eldest son of Arthur and Dorothy (Antons) Rickels. He received his early education in the Timber School no. 2 near Eby’s Mill. He graduated from the Monticello Community Schools in 1958. Marvin was active in track, football and FFA. They won the track conference in 1956, 1957 and 1958 and won in both basketball and football in 1957. While living at home on the farm, he helped with the daily chores. After graduation he worked on the Antons home farm as a hired hand from May until January of 1959. He worked for a short time at Franklin Equipment before starting at White Containers (later Georgia Pacific) in March. After 41 years, he retired on March 24, 2000. He started as a press operator, advanced to die mounter, and later became a supervisor over three presses, two slitters, a baler and band-saw.

In June of 1959 Marvin met the love of his life, Daisy May Avis, (who survives him) at the Prairiemoon Ballroom. They were engaged in September and married on April 23, 1960.

They have three daughters, Judy (Bruce) Duit, Peggy Rickels and Kay (Tom) Tiernan; nine grandchildren, Joseph, Nathan, Sarah and Alex Kraus, Amanda Lane, Alan Duit, Jonathan, Elizabeth and Anna Tiernan; and nine great-grandchildren, Elle Jo, Gabriel, Jacob, Jonah, Rylee and Lilly Kraus, Lucas and Landon Lane, and Allison Duit. He is also survived by his sister, Susie Wright; a brother, Eugene; and two sisters-in-law, Kay and Dixie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his siblings, Larry, Ervin and Shirley.

Marvin always had a love of music after taking accordion lessons at the age of 9. He later learned to play the guitar and played with Dave Kramer and the Western Kings and several other bands. In later years, he entertained at numerous care centers in the area playing his keyboard. Marvin like to do woodworking, framing pictures and making plaques, especially for the Cascade FFA. He also enjoyed working on jigsaw puzzles with a buddy. Marv loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting and riding his ATV on the farm. He was a member of the Monticello Conservation League, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, North American Hunting Club and the NRA. He monitored bluebird houses in the summer. From 1999 to 2020, he fledged over 1300 young bluebirds from 75 houses. He is also known for writing poems for special occasions.