Marilynn Jean Etzel

Beloved mother, grandmother and music educator/composer, Marilynn Jean (James) Etzel passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at her daughter’s home in Urbandale, Iowa, at the age of 90. She was born on October 7, 1934, to Elmer Edward and Doris Genave (Holcomb) James at St. Luke’s Hospital, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her younger brother, Lyle, completed the family five years later. Marilynn has many treasured memories from growing up on her family’s farm. She shared a bedroom in the farmhouse with her grandmother and they would often do exercises together before bed. Her after school chores included gathering hen eggs and Marilynn adored helping her father- fondly remembering him teaching her to drive the old red pickup, so he could stand in the back and shovel feed to the cows. As a younger girl, she loved swinging, climbing trees and reading books; Marilynn often mentioned that whenever she and her mother would get dressed up and go shopping in the city (Cedar Rapids), she looked forward to picking out a new book at Sanford’s. She had often already finished reading the new book before they even arrived home!

Music was a passion for Marilynn starting early on; she began piano lessons at age nine and later studied under Mrs. Helen Jolas at Cornell College. Marilynn graduated from Martelle High School in 1952, and attended Cornell College, in Mount Vernon, Iowa, where she graduated in 1956, earning a degree in music education. Marilynn married the love of her life, David Deane Etzel from Alburnett, Iowa, that same summer. She fell in love with playing bridge early in their marriage. Marilynn would spend time practicing and perfecting her skills for the weekly competitions with their bridge clubs.

She taught music at the school in Ottumwa, Iowa, for the first year of her career. Marilynn loved talking about and sharing photos of the full production of Alice in Wonderland, they put on during that school year! The following year, Marilynn and Dave returned to the Cedar Rapids/Marion area, where she started teaching private lessons and established a robust piano studio of her own- at times having nearly 100 active students. She was the first nontraditional classroom teacher to be honored with The Cedar Rapids Gazette’s “Educator of the Week” recognition. Marilynn and her family were very active in the Marion Christian Church, where she served as the Worship & Music Director for over 40 years. She loved sharing fond memories of her many years directing the Farm Bureau Women’s Chorus as well. Marilynn was a master of productions, in any setting-cantatas for church, pops concerts, and many other styles of concerts and shows that included choreography, costumes and sets of all kinds.

At age 50, Marilynn began seriously composing her own music, and she and David established their own publishing house to market and sell her music across the country. Many of Marilynn’s compositions have been featured in national music magazines and catalogs throughout the years, including The American Music Teacher and Clavier, and several of her pieces have been included in the Iowa Music Teachers Association syllabus. Marilynn was privileged to present showcases of her music all across the country, including Nashville, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Arlington, Cincinnati and Salt Lake City, just to name a few! In 2000, she held an exhibition of her music at the Music Teachers National Convention in Minneapolis, and later that same year, was invited to perform one of her own compositions at the Smithsonian Institute’s Carmichael Hall in Washington, D.C. for the National League of American Pen Women’s biennial convention. This event was part of a year-long series at the Smithsonian in celebration of “300 Years of the Piano”, that included a reception at the German Embassy. Marilynn served on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Composers Forum for many years. Above all, in her own words, Marilynn endeavored to create music that would attract, excite and motivate the student to develop a love of music for a lifetime; a dream she surely found much success in bringing to fruition throughout her lifetime of devotion to music education, performing, composing and mentoring.

Marilynn fiercely loved her family and always held her many students close to her heart long after their time spent together at the piano. May we all carry on her legacy of sharing love, humor (a little spunk when necessary!) and beautiful music with the world.

Marilynn is survived and lovingly remembered by children, Lisa (Rev. Dr. Lawrence) Lacher, Dana Etzel, and Dr. Eric (Dr. Michelle Facer) Etzel; and grandchildren, Dr. Cassandra (Rev. Marcus Cleveland) Lacher Cleveland, Nathan (Amber) Lacher, Christian (Casey) Lacher, Dr. Megan (Nicholas) Kavanaugh, Conner Wharff (Ashley Bosko), Madison Etzel and Parker Etzel; and great-grandchildren, Cayden, Hudson, Arthur, Harmonie, Natalie, Augusten, Saige, Paisley, Phineas, Peter, Mia and Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband and soulmate, David Etzel; and brother, Lyle James.

Funeral services will be held at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Marion Chrisitan Church, located at 1050 McGowan Blvd., in Marion, where a visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the service time. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.