Marsha Lee Atkinson

Marsha Lee Atkinson, 67, of Grinnell died December 18, 2015, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A family graveside service and burial will be held at a later date at the Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be directed to PALS (Poweshiek County Animal League Shelter), P.O. Box 123, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Marsha was born January 12, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Alfred and Hazel Baenziger Swan. She was raised in Bloomington, Illinois and was a 1965 graduate of Bloomington High School. She was a 1969 graduate of Illinois State University in Normal and later graduated from Midstate College in Peoria, Illinois. She was employed with the Greyhound Accounting Department in Des Moines and later moved to Grinnell in 1994. For 22 years she was the market manager for the Saturday morning Farmers Market in Grinnell and also co-owned a farm in the Blue Point area, south of Grinnell, where she raised fruit and vegetables. Marsha kept very busy between running her farm and managing the market. She was very well known and appreciated for her organic gardening. She loved the outdoors and nature, traveling and was an avid reader. Survivors include her loving sister and brother-in-law, Pat and John Stanko of Canton, Illinois; two nieces, Jessica Leigh Stanko and Lynette Rae Stanko, both of St. Louis; and her long-time friend and business partner, Linda Allen of Grinnell. She was preceded in death by her parents.