Marie Menken

1932 - 2024

Marie Menken, 91, of Waverly, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Waverly. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Greene. Woodley Funeral Home of Greene is caring for Marie and her family.

Marie was born October 11, 1932, in Aplington, Iowa, to Gerrit and Harmke (Russman) Eilderts. The youngest of eleven, Marie received her education in the rural Butler County schools. She married Bruce Menken on September 18, 1957, at Bethel Reformed Church in rural Aplington. They adopted two children, Mervin and DeAnn. Marie was a homemaker. She also worked at the Paddle Inn in Greene as a waitress and cook. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Greene, and later, Trinity United Methodist Church in Waverly.

Marie was an avid seamstress. She was best known for her handmade throw rugs which were made of 2x2 inch squares of double knit fabric cut with pinking shears. Since Bruce enjoyed woodworking, they became "The Crafting Hands" and went to many craft shows that featured Marie's rugs and Bruce's shadow boxes. She made well over 2,000 rugs during their crafting years.

Marie loved spending time with her family. When together, card games were played and her delicious sweet corn was enjoyed by all. Among her other hobbies were jigsaw puzzles, word searches, and playing solitaire.

Left to cherish Marie's memory are children, Mervin Menken and DeAnn (Artie) Beger; grandchildren, Amanda (fiancé Sean Hook) Menken, Hillary (Taylor) Harting, Emily Menken, Christopher (fiancée Delayni Dameron) Beger, and Olivia Beger. Great-grandchildren, Tye and Hailey Hernandez, Conner Hobson, Abigail Marrs, Mackenzie Harting, and Rosalynn Hall.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bruce; brothers, George, Jerry, Steno, and Edward; and sisters, Tillie, Gertie, Harmina, Elta, Bena, and Ruth.