Marlene Joyce Meade

Marlene Joyce Meade, 91, of Williamsburg passed away at Compass Memorial Hospital on September 1, 2023.   She was under hospice care and surrounded by loved ones. 

Born November 2, 1931 to Ralph and Grayce Wagner, she was the eldest of 9 children.  She graduated from Oxford High School and after meeting her lifelong partner Vernon Meade at a dance, they married in 1952.  They farmed in Cosgrove and Windham where they began their family which would eventually culminate in 9 children.  In 1968 they moved to the “town” of Williamsburg. During those years, besides being a devoted and busy wife and mother, Marlene worked numerous jobs to include Collins Radio, Pepperidge Farms, Proctor and Gamble, Colony Village and Seven Villages.  In 1981 they moved to Austin, Texas where Marlene worked for the University of Texas for 12 years before returning to their “roots’ in Iowa.  Not one to sit still, she returned to work part time at VF Factory Outlet until the age of 75 when she was awarded “Employee of the Year”.  Marlene was a member of St Michael’s and St Mary’s Catholic Church and Altar and Rosary Society.  

Her resilience, strength and faith were tested as she lost 3 sons during her lifetime: Bob at age 36, Terry at age 31, and Mark at 8 months, but she persevered as an example to all.  

Family was her passion and she thoroughly enjoyed time spent with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, and extended family.  In 2017, she moved to Highland Ridge where she thoroughly embraced the lifestyle there, renewing old friendships, making new friends and was involved in every card game, activity (especially Bingo) and outing she could fit in her schedule.  After suffering a stroke in Feb 2023, she put up a valiant fight to regain her strength and mobility. 

She leaves behind 5 daughters, Barb Thomas Tiffin, IA, Sandra Townsend (Carl Martin), Georgetown, TX, Mary (Bob) Maxwell, Georgetown, TX, Peg (Bill) Hay, Round Rock, TX,  Lisa (Brian) Carr, Georgetown, TX, a son, Paul Meade, Cedar Rapids, IA,  and daughters in law Diane (Dan) Dvorak, Iowa City, IA, Gale (Dave) Van Hauen, North Liberty, IA, and Patty Meade, Oxford, IA, grandchildren Chris Nidey, Iowa City, IA, Ryan (Sarah) Nidey, Tiffin, IA, Tara Meade, St Paul, MN, Tyler Meade, Iowa City, IA, Erin (Kris) Dougherty, Iowa City, IA, Michelle (Justin) Drummons, Georgetown, TX, Kate (Andy) Friederichs, Aledo, TX, Dustin McCallister, Georgetown, TX, Garrett Hay, Pflugerville, TX, Taylor Hay, NYC, NY, Laura (Vic) Cortese, Havertown, PA, Sara (Gabe) Decker, Williamsburg, IA, Emily (Josh) Rohret, Oxford, IA, Dawson Carr, Austin, TX, Lindsey Carr, College Station, TX and great grandchildren Jackson and Naomi Dougherty, Samuel, Matthias, Ezra, Josiah, and Hannah Drummons, Sophia, Penny Mae, and Eloise Friederichs, Luke and Zoey Cortese, Landon Coffman, Grant Decker, and Jack Rohret. 

Her surviving siblings include Jo Kahler, Jim  (Judy) Wagner, Daryl Wagner, Kathy Bender and sisters in law Mary Wagner, Thelma Wagner, Leola Wagner, Shirley Meade and Marge Sauter, and 47 nieces/nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Vernon, sons Bob, Terry and Mark, son in law Gary Thomas, siblings Robert Wagner, Richard Wagner, Gordon Wagner, and Elaine Meade, brothers in law Bill Meade, John Meade, Wayne Meade, Don Meade, Jack Kahler, Deon Bender and Loren Meade and sisters in law Donna Wagner, Geraldine Meade, and Anne Cypra.  

A Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 am Thursday, September 7, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Williamsburg. Burial will be at St. Michaels Cemetery in Holbrook. Visitation will be Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 4:00-7:00 pm with an Altar and Rosary Prayer Service beginning at 4:00 pm at Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg. Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg is caring for Marlene and her family. A Memorial Fund has been established for Essence of Life Hospice and St Mary’s Altar and Rosary Society.  Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhome.com