Marianne Michael

1917 - 2015

Marianne Michael, 98

Marianne K. Michael, 98, of Iowa City, departed this world on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at Atrium Village, Hills. A Service of Remembrance will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Lensing Funeral Service, Iowa City, with Rev. Jason Chen officiating.

Marianne was born in Guthrie County, Iowa, on September 14, 1917, during World War I, to Charles and Helen McLellan Krueger. She graduated during the Depression from Bagley High School and then McPherson College and later received her Master's from the University of Iowa. On May 28, 1944 she married Herbert D. Michael in Panora, Iowa, and joined him at a Civilian Public Service camp during World War II, living in a tent beside the Columbia River in Oregon. Along with the beauty of the setting and the idealism and camaraderie of the group she was among, a memory she always carried from that time was of the many hospital trains that passed, carrying wounded from the Pacific Theater.

In 1948 Herbert and Marianne sailed by freighter to West Africa, where they were service workers with the Church of the Brethren in a remote part of Northern Nigeria. Besides raising a family, Marianne taught in the mission schools, taught sewing and literacy to adult women, organized girls' clubs, and rode her donkey or bicycle to visit in the villages. Later she was a social worker at University Hospital until age 70. Marianne was an active listener who conveyed to each person that she really cared about them. She was a welcoming hostess, entertaining guests from many cultures and stations in life. The family dining table, with the conversation around it, was always the center, and it was always appointed with a cheerful tablecloth, garden flowers and a candle.

She remained an active member of the Church of the Brethren all her life, hosting monthly fellowship potlucks in her home. She was on the United Campus Ministries board and the Iowa City Ecumenical Peace Committee. In the absence of a local Brethren congregation, the Michaels attended both the Christian Reformed Church and Bethany Baptist in Iowa City, and the Sharon Center United Methodist Church. Marianne organized neighborhood block parties at their home on Fairchild Street and befriended many international students who went on to careers such as highrise construction engineer in Asia, university professor in Africa, and diplomat for Vietnam. Always well-read and interested in public affairs, she corresponded with a wide circle to the end of her life, as well as writing to the newspaper, her political representatives, and all the U.S. presidents.

Marianne is survived by her children Jan Michael and Susan Garzon of Stillwater, OK, Rosemary Michael and Robert Wennerholm of Iowa City, Peter and Donna Barr Michael of Indianapolis, IN, and Elizabeth Michael of Iowa City; grandchildren James Prior (Courtney) of Kansas City, MO, Skyler Michael of Iowa City and Kira Wennerholm of Iowa City; great-grandchildren Molly and Matilda; brother Dee Krueger, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Herbert in 2013.

The family would especially like to thank the staff of Atrium Village for their compassionate care for Marianne. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Church of the Brethren-Nigeria Crisis Fund to assist Nigerian families displaced by Boko Haram terrorists, or to the Iowa City Free Lunch Program.

A complete obituary and online condolences are at www.lensingfuneral.com