Marcella Ann DeBower

March 21, 1937 - August 23, 2011

Marcella Ann DeBower, 74, of Bristow, Iowa, passed away August 23, 2011, at the Waverly Health Center in Waverly, Iowa. She was born March 21, 1937, in Grundy Center, Iowa, to Harry and Kathryn (Dudden) Groote. Marcella graduated from Dike High School in 1954. She worked at Feller's Variety Store in Grundy Center for several years. She married Martin H. DeBower on April 2, 1965, at Lincoln Center Christian Reformed Church in rural Dike, Iowa. Marcella was a homemaker and helped on their farm. She was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Vilmar, where she taught Sunday School and Junior Lutherans. Marcella was a long time member of the WELCA Group and enjoyed singing in the choir for more than 35 years. An avid gardener, she was known for her canning and preserving. She spent a lot of time with her family and thoroughly enjoyed attending her grandchildren's many activities. She loved traveling, going out to eat, laughing, shopping, polka music, and she especially enjoyed celebrating their 45th Wedding Anniversary with her husband. Marcella is survived by her husband, Martin H. DeBower of Bristow, daughter Dianna and husband Steve Peterson of Mason City, daughter Angela and husband Jeffrey Jacobs of Traer, grandchildren: Justin Jacobs, Kyle Peterson, Jessica Jacobs, Luke Martin Peterson, and Jamie Jacobs; several nieces and nephews; sister-in-law Eileen Berends of Shell Rock and brother-in-law George Seehusen of Allison. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: John and Leona DeBower, Clarence F. and Lucille Prange, Bernice Seehusen, and Leonard Berends. Burial will be in the Church Cemetery.