Marvin Glen Walraven
Marvin Glen Walraven
Marvin Glen Walraven
March 1, 1924 – August 15, 2016
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 92
Marvin G. Walraven, 92, of Oskaloosa passed away Monday afternoon, August 15, 2016, at the Oskaloosa Care Center. Marvin Glen Walraven, son of John and Martha (Van Toorn) Walraven, was born March 1, 1924, in Oskaloosa.
Marvin was raised on a farm in the Cedar area and attended Red Country School.
March 9, 1947, Marvin was united in marriage to Evelyn DeWitt in Lacey, Iowa. They made their home on the same farm west of Cedar. To this union four children were born, Karen, Jonnie, Kathy and Jacque. Evelyn passed away, May 12, 1959, at the age of 31 years.
Marvin remained on the farm with his children and continued to farm. As is God’s way, blessing was brought out of tragedy. Frances Nieuwsma, a neighborhood friend since childhood, lost her husband a year after Marvin lost Evelyn and she was raising her three daughters by herself. Marvin and Frances courted for four years before their marriage on August 12, 1965. They then took all seven of their children camping in a stock truck to the Iowa State Fair for their honeymoon. Frances, along with her daughters, Lorna, Jolene and Retha, joined Marvin and his children on the farm west of Cedar, creating a busy, bursting-at-the-seams family home.
In addition to farming his whole life, Marvin owned and operated a grain hauling business, sold cars for LaFrenz Motors, and drove a school bus for over 20 years. After a tornado destroyed the farm house in 1984, Marvin and Frances moved in to Oskaloosa. He continued to farm for two years after moving to Oskaloosa.
Marvin was a member of Central Reformed Church for over 50 years, a member of Red Rock Threshers, rode with the Southeast Iowa Tractor Riders, and was a past member of the Southern Iowa Fair Board.
After his retirement, he enjoyed coffee time with his friends at McDonalds, participating in tractor rides around the state and volunteering at the Nelson Pioneer Farm. Marvin and Frances lived in Norwich Apartments for 11 ½ years before moving to Homestead in May 2016.
His family includes his wife Frances of over 51 years; their children and spouses: Karen (& Jim) Powell of Oskaloosa, and their children: Martha and Nick; Jonnie (& Helen) Walraven of Ottumwa, and their children: Melissa, Jeff, Shawn and Erin; Kathy (& Rich) Hugen, and their children: Carrie, Tina, Sheri and Dena; Jacque (& Mike) Jepson of Manson, IA, and their children: Andrew and Jennifer; Lorna (& Dennis) Trachta of Swisher, IA, and their children: Janeen and Danyel; Jolene (& Daryl) Scott of Oskaloosa, and their children: Dewayne, Dean and Jodee; Retha (& Richard) Dudak of Springville, IA, and their children: Jenna and Chase; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; his sisters and brothers-in-law: Ruby (& Clayton) Gabrielson of Story City, IA and Lucile (& Don) DeWitt of Lacey, IA; and his sisters-in-law: Pearldean DeWitt of New Sharon, Vera LaRue of New Sharon, IA, Wilma Boender Van Weelden of Oskaloosa, and Mary Ann Van Kooten of Oskaloosa; a brother-in-law, Abe Nunnikhoven of Oskaloosa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Evelyn.
Funeral Services for Marvin will be held at 10:30 a.m, Saturday morning, August 20 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, due to the construction at his church, with Pastor Jon Nelson of Central Reformed Church officiating.
A family prayer service will precede the service at 10:15 a.m. in the church fellowship hall.
Burial will be in Forest Cemetery with Pastor Alvern Boetsma conducting the committal service.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Friday, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will greet visitors from 5-7 p.m. Friday evening.
Memorials may be made to Central Reformed Church, Nelson Pioneer Farm, or Red Rock Threshers.
