Zelda Marxen

Zelda Marxen, 80, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at Atlantic Specialty Care in Atlantic.

Zelda Fay was born on September 20, 1941, in Rorbeck, Iowa, the daughter of Chris and Lavonne Bladt. She was baptized and confirmed at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church and attended the Elk Horn Community Schools in Elk Horn, Iowa. After school, she was employed as a waitress at Van’s Chat and Chew in Atlantic for several years where she met her future husband.

On May 31, 1959, she was united in marriage to Larry Lee Marxen at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. They were blessed with two daughters, Tami and Paulette. They made their home on Larry’s family farm north of Atlantic where they grew row crops and raised livestock. Zelda also raised and sold Labrador Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers. In her later years, she was employed at the Salem Lutheran Nursing Home in Elk Horn in the housekeeping department for a few years. She then worked in housekeeping at the Hawkeye Motel in Atlantic and cleaned several residential homes in the Atlantic area until she retired.

Zelda was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. In her spare time, you could often find her tending to her large flower and vegetable gardens which she loved to can and share her produce. Zelda enjoyed fishing, boating, taking several trips with her family and attending many farm progress shows with Larry. Most of all she cherished the time spent time with her daughters and grandchildren.

Zelda is survived by her daughters, Tami Shellberg and significant other, Bob Dea both of Minden, Iowa, and Paulette (Terry) McHugh of Ankeny, Iowa; grandchildren, Matt (Emily) McHugh of Des Moines, Iowa, Melissa (Kyle) Burkhiser of Clive, Iowa, and Jackie (Brandon) Nelson also of Minden; great grandchildren, Jacob, Cooper, and Stockton Nelson all of Minden; sister-in-law, Diane Bladt of Exira, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Larry Lee Marxen; grandson, Jacob Shellberg; great- granddaughter, Hazel Grace Nelson; parents; infant brothers, Dale Bladt and Eugene Bladt, brothers, Terry (Barb) Jorgensen, and Ron Bladt.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic with Pastor Kyle McBee of Zion Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home starting at 1:00 p.m.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Zelda’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.