Marvelle Kaltenbach

Marvelle B. Kaltenbach-Obituary
MarVelle Kaltenbach passed away peacefully in the evening hours of Wednesday, June 18, 2025, surrounded by family members. MarVelle died quietly as she was known throughout her life. One of her High School teachers said in her 1956 Senior Yearbook, "It sure is nice to have one nice, quiet young lady in the crowd".
MarVelle Bernice Johnson, the daughter of Theodore and Bernice Johnson, was born April 29, 1939, in Stromsburg, Nebraska. She was the only girl born between six brothers: Merle, Waldine, Roger, MarVelle, DeVerne, Arlette, and Royal. All were raised on the family farm, approximately 5 miles west of Osceola, Nebraska. All 7 siblings were confirmed in the Swede Home Lutheran Church.
Upon graduation from Osceola High School, MarVelle moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. She worked at the Cornhusker Hotel where she met Eugene E. McCarron. They married in 1960 and had three boys, Kevin, Terrance, and Daniel.
MarVelle married Philip E. Kaltenbach in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1973. Philip was a father to two boys, Richard and Jay. The result was a family of seven and the sum of the two families completed each other. The whole being much better than the two parts.
Philip retired from the Air Force in 1974, and the family settled in Dallas, Oregon. MarVelle took a job with Polk County where she worked for 15 years until retirement. Philip went to work building spray buggies at DeJong Farms in Balston, Oregon. MarVelle helped Philip with his studies to become a realtor. Philip became a realtor in 1975 and one of the purchases he made was the family home in Rickreall, Oregon in 1976. The family had outgrown the home in Dallas the day they moved in. All 5 boys graduated from Dallas High School while living in Rickreall.
Annual family camping trips to Clear Lake, Suttle Lake, and Loon Lake are fondly remembered as were annual ski trips to Mt. Bachelor/Sun River with all five boys, their spouses, and grandchildren. Nothing made Mom glow more than when we were all together sharing. Three years we competed (including Mom) in the annual Pole Pedal Paddle relay at Mt. Bachelor. Those are memories that none of us will ever forget.
Mom also loved family get togethers at all the big holidays. Mom was a great baker and cook. Taco Soup, Fruit soup, pies, coconut-oatmeal cookies, graham cracker crust cherry cheesecake, Swedish rye bread, and her fried chicken were just a few of the specialties she was known for. Another favorite activity the family enjoyed was playing a card game known as 6-point Pitch or Cutthroat Pitch, a Midwest game loved by Nebraskans and taught to us by Mom. As soon as the table was cleared, and the dishes done (in one of our homes or on a picnic table while camping) the cards came out and we were playing. Ribbing each other and getting animated more than a few times while camping, the Campground Host would have to stop by after quiet hours to remind us to keep our voices down as people were trying to sleep. Playing by lantern light are memories that will forever be etched in our memories.
After retiring, Phil and MarVelle were snowbirds in Yuma, Arizona for approximately 20 years with several friends from Oregon.
This family is bound together by humor, laughter, and a true love and respect for each other. Mom showed us the way. Love one another.
MarVelle is survived by sons Rick (Jamie), Jay (Donna), Kevin (Mary), Terry (Laurie), Daniel (Cathy), and daughter Gwen. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Emily, Audrey, Rick, Nicole, Max, Gabe, Jacob, Sally, Maggie, Kylie, Katelin, DJ, Cole, Caitlyn, Spencer, Nathan, Petra and several great-grandchildren. She has two surviving brothers, Arlette (Jane) and DeVerne (Geri).
Mom leaves behind a legacy of love, togetherness, stoicism, and Midwest prairie toughness.
MarVelle's ashes will be interred in the Trinity Lutheran Church Columbarium in Dallas, Oregon. Her family would like to welcome you to a Celebration of Life on a Saturday, TO BE DETERMINED at the Bollman Tribute Center. Reception to follow.