Marietta Bendorf Moershel

Marietta Bendorf Moershel died in her 97 ^th year on December 13, 2017 at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Middle Amana, Iowa. Except for a brief period living on Army bases in the 1940’s with her husband, Carl, Marietta was a life-long resident of the Amana Colonies and a devoted member of the Amana Church. She was born and raised in High Amana, the oldest of five children of Henry and Susanna (Wendler) Bendorf. She often spoke fondly of the loving, caring little community that surrounded her in those early years.

She married her high school sweetheart, Carl Moershel, in 1941 and moved to his family home in Homestead where she lived until 1994 when she moved into Lakeview Village in Middle Amana. They had two daughters, Marianne and Rebecca. Marietta suffered a great loss in her early 30’s when Carl passed away suddenly due to complications arising from lingering effects of the malaria he contracted while serving overseas in WWII. Though she always keenly felt this loss, she led a very active work and volunteer life and provided a warm, nurturing, and engaging home for her girls and later for visiting grandchildren.

In her early work years, Marietta held several secretarial positions including working for aeronautical pioneer, Dr. Alexander Lippisch. In the 1960’s, she went back to complete her BA studies at the University of Iowa and became a German and social studies teacher at Amana High School, a position she held until she retired in 1982. It was her favorite job. She enjoyed teaching and the interaction with students, and sustained friendships with many of them until she passed away.

During her life, Marietta did volunteer work with Bluebirds/Campfire Girls (group leader), YWCA (state board), Homestead Welfare Club (one of the co-editors of the original Amana Cookbook), women’s investment club, Amana Heritage Society (founding board member), school projects including co-editing the 50 ^th Amana School Reunion book; and many translation projects for the Amana Church and individuals who heard she was the go-to person for German translations. In her 80’s, she volunteered for a number of years with Essence of Life Hospice.

Marietta was an avid knitter, needlepointer, reader, double-crostic puzzle solver, gardener, traveller, bridge player, sports viewer – particularly tennis and the Iowa Hawkeyes, stargazer, and take-no-prisoners board game player.

Marietta is survived by her daughters Marianne (Bruce Woodrow) and Rebecca (Larry Gordon); grandchildren Erich Fox (Rae), Matthew Fox, and Ellie Gordon-Moershel; great-grandchildren Xavier Fox and Leonard Fossat; brother Henry Allen Bendorf (Kathy) and sister-in-law Madeline Bendorf; and caring nieces and nephews and their families whose visits and support she treasured, Scott and Ursula Williams, Sally Williams, John and Martha Bendorf, Carl and Linda Bendorf, Angela and Warner Jamison.

She is predeceased by her husband Carl, sister Elizabeth Williams (Lloyd), brothers William and Marvin Bendorf (Emaline), sister-in-law Amber Bendorf, niece Nancy Williams Cook and nephews Brian Bendorf and Morgan Williams.

Viewing will be held on Tuesday , December 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Middle Amana Church. Funeral service will be on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 10:00 am. Following the service, internment will be at the Homestead cemetery.

Her daughters wish to thank the staff of Essence of Life Hospice, Colonial Manor, Lakeview Village, and Dr. Richard Pope for the care and support they provided Marietta in her later years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Amana Church Society or the Amana Heritage Society both in Amana, IA 52203. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo is assisting the family with arrangements.