Marlene A. Evans, 81, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, April 17, 2021, after a brief illness. A Vigil Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2021, followed by a visitation from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marion, conducted by Deacon Jeff Volker. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a face mask and practice social distancing.
Marlene was born on April 15, 1940, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of John and Caroline (Cabrnoch) Evans. She worked for Linn County Options and retired after 28 years in 2002. Marlene enjoyed playing Wii bowling and watching sitcoms and westerns. She was an avid bowler, winning too many trophies to count. Marlene participated and medaled in the Special Olympics for several years. She liked horses, Grover and SpongeBob SquarePants, sleeping in, and good food, especially desserts. Marlene liked classic country music (Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash) and she enjoyed singing any kind of music in the car. She wanted to drive all sorts of vehicles: cars, trucks, motorcycles, golf carts – anything with wheels. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Marlene is survived and lovingly remembered by her twin sister, whom she lived with her entire life, Martha Evans of Cedar Rapids; brother-in-law, Joe Cook of Cedar Rapids; seven nieces and nephews, John C. Evans Sr. (fiancée, Barb Harris), Karen (Roger) Spratt, and James (Sandra) Evans all of Davenport, Iowa, Jennifer (Paul) Sankot of Belle Plaine, Iowa, Timothy (Anne) Cook of Cedar Rapids, Janice (Larry Granroth) Cook-Granroth of Iowa City, Iowa, and Jo Cook of West Des Moines, Iowa; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John W. and Caroline Evans; three brothers, Phillip Evans, John (Virginia) Evans and Raymond Evans; and one sister, Margaret Cook.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the exceptional caregivers at both Systems Unlimited and Mercy Medical Center for the love, care and compassion they gave to Marlene.