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Marlene Kilts Obituary
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Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at the Perry Bible Church, Perry, Iowa. Burial will be in Violet Hill Cemetery, Perry, Iowa. Visitation will be Monday, November 3, 2025 from 3-8 P.M. with family present from 5-8 P.M. at the Perry Bible Church.
Marlene is survived by her husband, James Kilts of Perry; sons, Tim (Rhonda) Kilts, Matthew Kilts, daughter-in-law Michelle Robbins all of Perry; 7 grandchildren, Tyler (Ivy) Helgeson, Kody (Alisa) Kilts, Trevor, Owen, MacKenzie, Ella, and Halle Kilts; great-grandchildren, Tony and Lee Helgeson, and Waylon Kilts; sisters, Vivian Luthi of Kansas, Darlene (Bud) Webber of Missouri, and Carla Bousman of Iowa, and brother-in-law Mike Kilts of Washington; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers, Bud, Larry, and Rick Carpenter, sister Charlene Rothmeyer, niece Jennifer Rothmeyer and sister-in-law Jean Kilts.
Marlene Jo Kilts, daughter of Boyd & Josephine (Greenwaldt) Carpenter, was born August 24, 1952 in Dexter, Iowa. She graduated from Perry High School in 1970. After finishing high school Marlene went on to earn a degree in Office Management from DMACC in Ankeny. On February 27, 1971, she married James Wayne Kilts in Perry, Iowa. They lived for a short time in Alexandria, Louisiana before returning to Perry in October of 1972, where they resided and raised two sons. Marlene started her job for Hastings Funeral Home in 1988, where she worked as a secretary and funeral coordinator. During her time at the funeral home she made an impact on every family that came to Hastings. She retired in 2003, due to medical reasons. With her retirement, her new passion became investing time in her grandchildren's lives. In Marlene's free time she also enjoyed crocheting, knitting, sewing, fishing, and traveling with her husband.
She will forever be known as mom and grandma by many.
Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.
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