Wenger, Marie Elizabeth (Forrest)

Marie Elizabeth (Forrest) Wenger, 97, a resident of Summit Pointe Senior Living in Marion, formerly of Coggon, died Sunday, May 5, 2013. Celebration of Life: 2:15 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at First United Methodist Church, Central City, by the Rev. Joshua Hansen and Pastor Brent Rairdin of Hospice of Mercy. The family will greet friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion.

Survivors include her children, Susan (Wenger) Halstead of Coggon and Russell L. (Mary Ann) Wenger of Rogersville, Mo.; daughter-in-law, Jean Wenger of Ryan; sister, Dorothy (Richard) Henderson of Cedar Rapids; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and “special daughter,” Margaret Ann (Patton) Phillips of Cocoa Beach, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Charles Wenger; and brother, Greydon Forrest.

Marie was born April 19, 1916, in rural Central City, the daughter of Parke and Cassie (Moles) Forrest. She graduated from Central City High School, and received her teaching certificate from Iowa State Teachers College (UNI). Marie married Paul Wenger on Aug. 12, 1939, at her parent's home south of Coggon. Paul died Aug. 10, 2009. She spent her early years teaching in one room school houses in Marion and rural Linn County and was a homemaker for many years. Marie was a member of First United Methodist Church, Central City.

Please sign the online guest book for Marie at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette May 7, 2013.