Obituary of Marian Alice Koelker

PETERSBURG, IOWA Marian A. Koelker, 86, of Petersburg died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester. Friends may call from 2 - 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a parish vigil service will be held at 5 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept 19, 2016, at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Petersburg with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. John O’Connor will officiate. Marian was born May 20, 1930, in Colesburg, Iowa the daughter of Leonard and Catherine (Lansing) Bockenstedt. She married Allan Koelker on June 6, 1950, in Colesburg, Iowa. Together they farmed on the Koelker home farm for over 66 years, all of their married lives. Marian and Bud loved polka music, often traveling with the Northeast Iowa Polka Club to go to dances. She was especially known for her homemade potato salad, oatmeal and bacon. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew her as “Grandma Tootsie” as she often handed out Tootsie Rolls. She had a strong commitment to family and friends, always remembering to call KDST about everyone’s birthday and anniversary. She was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. Survivors include her husband, Allan “Bud”, 4 sons: Chuck (Marilee) Koelker of New Vienna, Terry (Joyce) Koelker, Mike (JoAnn) Koelker and Ron (Sandy) Koelker, all of Dyersville; a daughter-in-law, Kathy (Tim) Sweeney; grandchildren: Barry (Carrie) Koelker, Danielle (Bruce) Ling, Angel (Jason) Kelchen and Carmen (Terry) Dunkel, Jodi (Brandon) Kelley, Rob (Tara) Koelker and Jeff (Annie) Koelker, Jesse (Molly) Koelker, Shelli (Scott) Wilson and Matt (Lindsey) Koelker, Nick (Nicole) Koelker, Leah (Casey) Lechtenberg and Jenna Koelker, and Terra, Brooke and Trent Koelker; 30 great-grandchildren. 3 brothers: Fred (Barb) Bockenstedt of Levenworth, WA, Dennis (Judy) Bockenstedt of Petersburg and Dean (Rosalee) Bockenstedt of Edgewood; 4 sisters: Blanche (Albert) Schulte of New Vienna, Leona (Marv) Tauke of Dyersville, Jean (Ken) Kramer of New Port Richey, FL and Phyllis (Jim) Tigges of LasVegas, NV; In-laws: Lois Bockenstedt of Edgewood and Ambrose “Butch” Wegmann of Delhi. She is preceded in death by her parents, 2 children: Theresa in infancy and Todd Koelker, a brother, Leo Bockenstedt, a sister, Patsy Wegmann; in-laws: Mildred Koelker, Evelyn Koelker, LuVern (Anna Mae) Koelker, Lucille (Victor) Vaske, Edmund (Clara) Koelker, Lawrence (Ruth) Koelker, Alma (Clete) Vaske and Cora (Charles) Gerken. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.