Marlys Mae Ewoldt

Marlys Ewoldt, age 89, of Alta, Iowa died on Monday, August 20, 2018 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake, Iowa. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Hanover, Iowa. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will take place Wednesday, August 22, 2018 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in ALTA. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta is in charge of the arrangements. Marlys Ewoldt was born on January 4, 1929. Her parents were Lester and Frieda (Huseman) Kolpin. Her father was a farmer and her mother a housewife. Marlys lived most of her life on her family’s Century farm. She attended St. John Lutheran parochial school where she was also confirmed. Confirmation studies at the time required her to memorize 19 hymns and 20 Psalms. Marlys recited “Just as I Am” for her confirmation. After graduation from Alta High School, she went to Drake University. She lived in a basement apartment in Des Moines and worked as a waitress to help with expenses. Her roommate was a stranger (Gig) from Chicago who asked Marlys “What is this God thing?” Mom brought her to church and they stayed in touch over the years. Marlys graduated from Drake with a two year teaching certificate. In 1948, Marlys began teaching in the country outside of Storm Lake at the Hayes School. She taught there for two years. During her second year she had to ask the school board for permission to marry. On November 20, 1949 she married Wendell Ewoldt at St. John’s in an all pink wedding ceremony, followed by a 3 course sit down dinner for 200 people at the Alta Legion Hall. Following the wedding, Wendell and Marlys lived in the Hayes teacherage for a year. In 1950, Marlys resigned her teaching position. At that time, you were not allowed to have a child and be a teacher. Her first child, Mary Jane, was born February 16, 1951 and on December 27, 1952 her second daughter, Carol Lea, was born. In 1956, during a drought and $12/ hundred weights price for hogs, Marlys took a temporary ½ year teaching job in Schaller that turned into much more. Marlys taught several grades but loved teaching 4th graders the best. She called it a “teacher’s paradise.” After seven years of teaching, Marlys felt her family needed her at home. She was home for one year when the superintendent of Schaller called and asked her to come back. Her family convinced her to go. Marlys continued to teach for twenty-two years. During that time, she raised her family and took night school and summer courses to graduate from Buena Vista College in 1969 with her Bachelor’s degree. With both of her girls out of college she decided it was time to retire. She wanted to leave teaching on a high note and spend more time with her husband, taking memorable trips to Canada, Hawaii, California and many bus trips. Retirement also allowed her to do a little tractor driving, tutor children, teach Thursday church school, learn the game of golf, play bridge and become acquainted with computers. She used her computer daily, emailing her daughters to update them on her plans and activities. In 1998, Marlys and Wendell moved to Alta and the home her parents had built in 1951. Marlys affected the lives of her family and hundreds of students. It was hard for her to go anywhere that she did not encounter a former student anxious to greet” Mrs. Ewoldt” and let her know she was their favorite teacher. She felt God gave her a gift. She never stopped being a teacher. She will be forever remembered and held in their hearts by her husband, Wendell Ewoldt; daughters: Mary Jane (Gail) Gebers; Carol Lea (Kevin) Melsha; grandchildren: Dr. Alex (Jann) Murphy, Dr. Kyle (Jen) Murphy, BJ (Lisa) Melsha, Kailyn Melsha; step grandchildren: Scott (Renae) Gebers, Chad (Shannon) Gebers; great-grandchildren: Carly Murphy, Chloe Murphy, Keegan Murphy and Brynley Murphy; step great-grandchildren: Ryleigh Gebers, Dane Gebers, Will Gebers, Drew Gebers, Hannah Gebers, and Sydney Gebers.

Marlys Mae Ewoldt

January 4, 1929 - August 20, 2018