Marlin Ingalls

Marlin Ray Ingalls of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away at his home on August 13, 2025.

Marlin was born in Peoria, Illinois, on September 14, 1953, to parents John and Libby Ingalls. He was little brother to Larry and Jerry Ingalls. The three boys grew up in LeRoy, Illinois, where Marlin attended 2nd through 11th grade, and made many life-long friendships. In 1970, he moved with his parents to Toulon, Illinois, and graduated from Toulon-Lafayette High School in 1971.

Following junior college at Black Hawk College in Kewanee, Illinois, and several interestingly diverse jobs (including railroad maintenance, assistant zookeeper, factory and agricultural jobs), Marlin went on to earn BS and MS degrees in Anthropology and Archaeology from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. After graduation in 1986, Marlin worked for the Illinois State Museum and also started his own professional consulting company.

Marlin moved to Iowa City in 1990 to take a position with the Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist. This became his life's work, and he stayed until his retirement in 2016. He contributed to the mission of the office with his experience and knowledge in the disciplines of Archaeology, History and Architectural History. His professional specialties and interests ranged from Early American history and vernacular architecture to cultural landscapes and historic roads to historic interior furnishings, ceramics and glassware. Marlin was the "go to" in the office for all historic inquiries and he generously shared his knowledge and insights.

Outside of work, Marlin loved his Northside Iowa City neighborhood and his historic landmark house. He enjoyed telling stories and sharing his knowledge of local history, and he will be remembered by many in town for his guided tours of Iowa City's historic underground beer caves.

Marlin was also an amazing artist. Self-taught and prolific, his drawings and paintings are vibrantly colored and expressive. Favorite subjects were landscapes, female nudes, animals and insects.

Marlin was a one-of-a-kind man. He was loved and he will be missed.

Marlin is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Larry and Blenda Ingalls of Red Bud, Illinois; brother Jerry Ingalls of Alton, Illinois; niece Sarah Ingalls and nephew John Ingalls; aunts, uncles, and cousins. Marlin was preceded in death by his parents.

Marlin's ashes will be interred in the columbarium at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, and in a family plot in the Diamond Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville, Illinois.

A memorial service will be held in Oakland Cemetery at 3:30pm on Friday, November 21st, with fellowship and celebration to follow at the Hilltop Tavern, 1100 N. Dodge St., Iowa City. Please see lensingfuneral.com for more information and to share photos and memories.