Marcia A. Connell

CLEAR LAKE - Marcia A. Connell, 81, of Clear Lake, died peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones on Thursday (June 12, 2008).

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 18, at the First Congregational Church, 205 W. 10th Ave. N. in Clear Lake. Private inurnment services will be held later at the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 17 at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel in Clear Lake and then one hour before the service on Wednesday at the church.

Memorials may be given to the First Congregational Church in Clear Lake; Opportunity Village; the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the Clear Lake Community School Foundation.

Marcia Jean Ashland was born on November 28, 1926, to L.E. (Earl) and Esther Woodford Ashland.

As a teen, she worked summers in her father's Basket Grocery stores.

She enjoyed sailing on the lake and the outdoors. She enjoyed fishing, pheasant hunting and trapshooting with her father.

She graduated from Clear Lake High School, attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri, and graduated with a business degree from the University of Iowa.

Marcia worked as a buyer for Marshall Fields in Chicago after graduating from college.

Marcia and James F. Connell were married on September 3, 1949, and lived in Iowa City before moving to Clear Lake where Jim managed what is now Woodford Lumber and Home Company.

Their first daughter, Sarah, was born while Jim was serving in the Army in the Korean Conflict.

She was active in the Girl Scouts with her daughters and headed up the Red Cross swimming program at City Beach.

Marcia had a dry sense of humor, was a hard worker and staunchly independent until breaking a hip a few years ago.

Marcia enjoyed taking family trips in the summer, going on fishing trips to Canada with Jim and good friends, golfing, hunting for morel mushrooms and having picnics with family and friends.

She was an avid reader and enjoyed her "bookies" group of friends who meet weekly.

She loved attending her grandsons' school and sports activities.

Marcia was an owner, served as president, was currently chairman of the board and was active on the boards of directors of both the Clear Lake Independent Telephone Company and Woodford Lumber and Home for over 60 years until just months before her death. At a time when many might focus on their retirement, she continued to reinvest in the companies.

She enjoyed wishing employees happy birthday and keeping up with their childrens' activities.

She also believed strongly in giving back to the community. She established scholarships at Clear Lake High School and North Iowa Area Community College.

Marcia and her family are grateful they could protect one of the last stretches of lakeshore wilderness on Clear Lake. The family gave up the property right in 1992 to develop what is now Woodford Ashland Lone Tree Point Nature Area via a conservation easement with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The family still owns the property, but allows public access for low impact use.

Marcia served on the Opportunity Village Board of Directors, Board of Trustees at First Congregational Church and was an active member there. She was a member of PEO Chapter EA, Delta Gamma sorority and other organizations.

She is survived by her daughter Sarah Ohlrogge (Dennis) of Onalaska, Wis.; daughter Jan Lovell (Tom) of Clear Lake; two grandsons, Christopher Lovell and Erik Ohlrogge and son-in-law Kevin Magee of Madison, Wis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Jim and daughter Susan Connell-Magee of Madison, Wis.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, 641-357-2193.

www.colonialchapels.com.