Marvin Deam Sheffield

Marvin Deam

SHEFFIELD - Marvin Deam, 85, of Sheffield, passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, at Hospice of North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Zion Reformed Church rural Sheffield with the Rev. Art Zewert presiding.

Interment with Veteran's Honors will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday 4-7 p.m. at Retz Funeral Home, Sheffield.

Marvin D Deam was born on the farm in rural Hampton, the son of Andrew and Johanna (Mollenbeck) Deam, on March 25, 1930. He attended country school and graduated from Sheffield High School in 1948. Marvin helped with chores before and after school and when he entered high school he also farmed with his father. Marvin did leave school for a short time when he was in high school, but after a brief period of time he received a "pep talk" from one of his teachers to return to school.

Marvin could be found most weekends at the local roller skating rink, this is where he met Norma Jean Hansen, who would later become his wife. As most young men of his age he received his call from the U.S. Government. He entered basic training, and on his last furlough at home, before being shipped to Korea, he married Norma Jean (Hansen) Deam at St. Charles Methodist Church in Floyd County on June 12, 1952. He spent 16 months in Korea and while he was stationed there he was a heavy equipment operator and mostly operated a D7 Caterpillar.

After Marvin returned from the service he started his own farming operation, along with milk cows on a farm north west of Sheffield. In 1967 he and his family moved to the home farm located west of Sheffield, which was his home for the next 37 years. Also in 1967 his milking barn was destroyed in a fire after being struck by lightning. Marvin then built a herd of Black Angus cattle. He was a favored breeder of purebred Black Angus. Marvin and Leo Renberg purchased a corn sheller and would shell corn for all area farmers.

In 1984, his wife Norma died from cancer. Later that year he met and married Deone Muhlenbruck Schultz and before his death they shared 31 wonderful years together.

Marvin was hard worker but his passion "was making things work." He could fix almost anything and if something didn't work quite the way he thought they should he would take it apart and make it "better." Over the years many of his family and friends would bring him many different items to fix. Marvin's other hobby was his ability to visit with anyone and also his story telling. No matter where he went it seemed liked someone always knew Marv!

A member of Zion Reformed Church Marvin served as Deacon, Elder, Usher, was a member of couple's club and Brotherhood. He also served as a leader for RCYF. He was a member of the Sheffield American Legion.

Family members include his wife, Deone, of Hampton; Son: Scott Deam, Sheffield; Daughter: Tracy (Mike) Schroeder, Sheffield; Grandchildren: Ashley and Andrew Schroeder; Step-children: Gary (Colleen) Schulz, LaPorte City, Iowa; Sandy (Craig) Ekhardt, Hampton; Jean Schulz Mitchell, Hampton; Sister: Mardel (Elmer) Weber, Sheffield and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents and first wife Norma.

Retz Funeral Home, www.retzfh.com.