Marilyn Egland

Marilyn L. Egland, 79, of Bettendorf, died Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, May 12, 2017 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bettendorf.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the services on Friday at the church.  Private burial services will be in Davenport Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lutheran Indian Ministries (lutheranindianministries.org.)

Marilyn was born to Dorothy (McDonald) and Maynard Parchert at a farm in Buffalo Prairie Township near Illinois City on December 29, 1937.

Marilyn attended a one-room schoolhouse for six years and later graduated from Reynolds High School in Reynolds, Illinois. Marilyn received her bachelor’s degree in education from Western Illinois University and taught 8th grade English at various schools in Freeport, Illinois; Eldridge, and Bettendorf, Iowa.

Marilyn met her future husband while in Freeport, and they were united in marriage on July 30, 1961 at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Buffalo Prairie Township.  They settled down together in Bettendorf.  Marilyn continued teaching until their son was born.

Marilyn was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bettendorf, eager to serve in many different capacities, including Sunday School teaching and church choir.  She worked as Church Secretary for many years and helped define the position of Parish Administrator before retiring.

Marilyn joyfully served many years with the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, an organization dedicated to encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries.  She served on various boards and committees before being elected to National Vice-President of Mission Education and, later, Executive Committee Planner.

With her passionate heart for missions and reaching the lost, Marilyn began serving on and later chairing the board for Lutheran Indian Ministries, which is a Christian outreach to Native Americans.

Over the years she enjoyed bowling, golfing, reading, playing bridge, decorating elaborate birthday cakes for her grandchildren, and designing unique and beautiful stained glass art.

She is survived by her husband, Vernon; her son and daughter-in-law, Keith & Lorie Egland of Peoria; her grandchildren, Caleb, Jillian and Carissa; her brother, Kenneth (Mary Lou) Parchert of Buffalo Prairie Township; her sister, Bernice (Bill) Kelly of Aledo; and many nieces and nephews.

She will be deeply missed by family and friends who have been lovingly supportive during her 6-year battle with cancer.