MARILYN MITTELSTADT

Marilyn was act­ive in num­erous local, state and national organizations and was recognized for her talents as a china painter. She created a business and taught china painting in Fort Dodge, Bettendorf and Storm Lake. She was president of the Iowa World Organization of China Painters, a member of the China Painters Gallery in Fort Dodge and the Storm Lake Porcelain Artists. She was communications chairwoman for the World Organization of China Painters World Show in 1995 in St. Charles, Ill.

She also was a leader in local Cub Scouts and Camp Fire Girls, where she was a volunteer for Camp WaNoKi. She taught Sunday School, including children with learning disabilities, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, where she and her husband were members for many years before a job transfer took them to the Quad Cities.

Other activities included as member of the YWCA board of directors; the Lutheran Family Service Auxiliary, where she served as board vice president and as a foster parent; board member of the Camp Okoboji Auxiliary; and board member of the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, where she taught art to adults with disabilities.

Helen Marilyn Mittelstadt was born Nov. 16, 1930, in Fort Dodge to Carl S. and Gertrude M. (Mueller) Tunwall. She attended Fort Dodge schools and graduated in 1949 from Fort Dodge Senior High School. After a year in college, she worked as a receptionist at Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Co. There she met her future husband, Raymond Mittelstadt. They were united in marriage on July 6, 1952, and blessed with three children.

Marilyn and Ray became involved with archeological searches in northern Iowa; she served as secretary of the Iowa Archeology Society.

Retirement took them to Storm Lake. They joined St. John Lutheran Church where Marilyn served on many committees. They were active in other groups, including the Buena Vista County Historical Society, where Marilyn joined the board of directors.

Marilyn was a loving, generous, giving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ray, brother Jack Tunwall. She is survived by brother Carl Tunwall, Cedar Falls. Those left to cherish her memory include children: Mark (Mary) Mittelstadt of Marana, Ariz.; Sara (Curt) Messerly of Fort Dodge; Chad (Julie) Mittelstadt of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren: Matthew (Mari) Mittelstadt of Tucson, Ariz.; Brent Mittelstadt of Oxford, England; Kyle (Kate) Messerly of Eau Claire, Wis.; Sophia, Nicholas and Ella Mittelstadt of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren: Moises of Tucson, Az.; Declan and Quinn Messerly of Eau Claire, Wis.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Fort Dodge, with visitation at 10 a.m. Donations and gifts left to discretion of family.