Sue Mardesen

Lylia Ann Mardesen, more affectionately known as “Sue,” was born on January 4, 1939, the daughter of Lyle and Roma (Prior) Jensen in Avoca, Iowa. She joined two brothers and later welcomed two sisters and another brother into the family. Sue received her education at Avoca High School, graduating with the class of 1957.

On September 13, 1959, she married Darrell Mardesen at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Sue stayed busy helping on the farm and enjoyed driving the combine. She also spent over 15 years working in the kitchen at Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, where she loved visiting with the residents and ensuring they had good food to eat.

Sue and Darrell enjoyed traveling and spent many of their retired winters in Texas, escaping the cold Iowa weather. They loved learning new card games to bring home and share with their friends in Iowa. The couple were also members of Elk Horn Lutheran Church. When they decided to sell their farm and move to town, they never looked back. Sue looked forward to cooking and entertaining family and friends. She was very creative, enjoying sewing, quilting, and gardening. Above all, she cherished making memories with her family.

On Sunday, October 6, 2024, Sue passed away peacefully at the Heritage House, where she had lived for the last three years, in Atlantic, at the age of 85 years, nine months, and two days.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law, Vernon and Grace Mardesen; her husband, Darrell Mardesen, in 2010; her son-in-law, Dan Hartvigsen; three brothers: Merlin Jensen, Bruce Jensen, and John Jensen; and her brother-in-law, Richard (Sara) Mardesen. She is survived by her four children: Cindy (Tom) Boyd of Omaha, Nebraska; Gene (Susan) Mardesen of Elk Horn; Clara Wambold of Omaha, Nebraska; and Carol Hartvigsen (Dan Schnepel) of Kimballton; grandchildren: Megan (Matt) Kapp of Fort Collins, Colorado; Kyle (Ashtin) Wambold of Council Bluffs; Nickolas (Sabrina) Mardesen of Dunlap; and Paige Wambold of Council Bluffs; great-grandchildren: Carson, Graham, Korbin, Harvey, William, Mylie Jo, and Cooper; two sisters: Colleen (Gary) Schnepel of Omaha and Arlene (Harold) Reed of Carlisle; sisters-in-law: Sharon (Dick) Nelson of Omaha, Jackie Jensen of Avoca, and Linda Jensen of Council Bluffs; and many other family members and friends.

Her funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m., with visitation prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn. Burial will follow at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family for a donation to be made in her memory.