Marilyn McClurg

Marilyn McClurg was born on August 6, 1928, a Monday. She went home May 19, 2025.

She was the fifth of six children born to Beatrice and Harold Warren. That birth date placed her squarely in the crosshairs of the Dust Bowl and the ‘not so’ Great Depression, experiences that would shape her personal values for the rest of her 96 years.

She grew up on the family farm, a small plot of land in central Iowa that her father grew fruits and vegetables on for sale to restaurants and at farmer’s markets. She learned early on how to place the “toppers”, the best looking of that day’s harvest on the top of the cartons for sale. She also remembers the family spending days at a time in an underground cellar to escape the unrelenting heat and dust of the 1930’s Dust Bowl.

The family was poor in financial assets, but rich in experiences. On rare occasions, her father would bring home a treat after a good day’s sales. When he arrived, Bea would carefully cut the prize into eight identical pieces and the family would enjoy a taste of goodness together.

None of the kids and their mother, except the youngest Neal, were assigned middle names at birth. This led to a great many “official” documents filed over the years with (None) where a middle name might otherwise go. Countless government bureaucrats over the years likely struggled to interpret what this collective act of civil reporting in rural Iowa might mean…?

Almost daily, Bea would bake two identical pies. After they cooled, she would cut each into four quarters, eight pieces in all. After dinner, the family would consume a pie feast together, each consuming a quarter of a pie. Ah, those were the days…

Shortly after World War II, Marilyn met Vernon at a local roller-skating rink. This began the ride of her lifetime. After serving in the south Pacific as a Marine, Vernon returned to Iowa, met and wed Marilyn. Their marriage would last 65 years, until Vernon preceded her in death in 2012.

Before starting a family, Marilyn worked in a hosiery mill in Des Moines sewing the long seams on the back of women’s nylon stockings. Not a bad job for the times, except Marilyn’s eyes didn’t focus correctly. No matter how she tilted her head to compensate, some of those seams just created a random path of their own. There were more than a few “re-dos”!

Building a family started in 1953 with the adoption of Mark. Brian joined the clan in 1958 and Lisa completed the family in 1962. Marilyn loved her children and the families that they created more than life itself. Getting together at the family home for Sunday lunches with as much family as possible was the highpoint of her week. The meals and the time together were always top-notch! If requested, a favorite recipe was not always provided in precise detail. What exactly is “a little bit smaller than a pinch of” anything?

Marilyn enjoyed many things in life. Her faith and her family were the two most constant and precious.

She also enjoyed singing alto harmony in church, in groups and anywhere there was a pitch pipe. She sang and performed with The Sweet Adelines for many years. If anyone is unfamiliar with The Sweet Adelines, look ‘em up. They don’t do Rap!

Countless hours were spent canning vegetables from her extensive gardens. Sometimes, the canning process became an unplanned adventure. More than once, the family was forced to retreat from the kitchen until the pressure cooker cooled down from its “ready to explode” status.

Throughout her life, she loved doing and learning to do new things.

She had always been an excellent seamstress, but the addition of three children to the family gave her three new “mannequins” to practice on. She reveled in creating Sunday School outfits for all three to wear to special events, most often church. Sometimes from a pattern, sometimes free hand, lifeless bolts of fabric became wonderfully coordinated outfits. Barbie dolls also benefitted from her creativity, wearing clothes and accessories Ken could only dream of.

Ceramics and painting were another pursuit. Introduced to both later in life, Marilyn created works of art in kilns and on canvas. Everyone that knew her during her painting/ceramic period has many cherished examples of her work in their homes. She even crafted commercial custom draperies for area home interior designers.

In her early 70‘s, Marilyn decided she needed a fish pond to complement her largest flower garden. Armed with a shovel and several random pond parts, she set out to build a pond. She dug the hole, lined the sides and designed a filtering system. For many years, she sheltered the luckiest goldfish from Walmart in her pond, catching them every Fall to protect them inside until the next Spring. Resident bullfrogs were asked to stay outdoors.

Sometime after her 90th birthday, someone asked “what did you do today?” She responded I planted a tree. I gathered up my shovel, my new tree, fired up my riding lawnmower and proceeded to plant my new little tree. I can’t wait to see it grow big and strong. That’s true optimism! Days before passing, Marilyn lamented that she would love to go outdoors, get her hands dirty and just plant something.

Finally, she loved playing card games. Actually, she loved WINNING card games. Even when a traveling evangelist came to town, no mercy was shown. Watch out John Lee!!!

It was a life well lived. Her faith never wavered and it carried her through tough times over the last few years. No matter how bleak the day might become, ‘Jesus loves me’ ruled the day. And now it will forever.

Preceding her in death were her mother (Beatrice Warren) and father (Harold Warren), brothers Carson Warren and wife Lois, Carroll Warren and wife Betty, Don Warren and wife Margaret and Neal Warren. She is survived by sister-in-law Peg Warren and son Mark (Susie) McClurg and children Corey and Lindsay, Brian McClurg and children Emily (Ben) Wedemeyer and (sons, George, Henry and Samuel), Jill (Joshua) Jeffrey, Aubrey (Keith) Heinze and Lisa (Martin) Williamson and son Nathan and wife Kathleen.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2025, at Pleasant Hill Church of Christ, 5091 E University Ave, Pleasant Hill, and will be followed by a luncheon. Burial will take place at Warren Powers Cemetery.

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