Marilyn Grout

A Celebration of Life for Marilyn Grout, 86, of Kalona will be held Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at 10:30 AM at the Kalona United Methodist Church in Kalona with Pastor Gerry Kahler officiating. Burial will follow at the Sharon Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 30 from 4-8 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona.  A memorial fund has been established for the Kalona Historical Village and the Kalona Public Library.  Marilyn Grout died peacefully Thursday morning at her home, May 25, 2017.

Marilyn Jean Strickler was born October, 15 1930 in Kalona IA to Lovell and Grace Strickler.  She graduated from Kalona High school in 1949.  Following graduation she worked at Reif's Department Store. Marilyn met her future husband at the Kalona Roller Rink.  Marilyn married Edwin Grout of Riverside IA on May 23, 1949 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA.  She lived on the Grout heritage family farm in rural Riverside for 51 years before moving to Kalona in 2000.

She was active in Eastern Star at Sharon Center and was a member of the Grout Church where she played the piano. She also played the organ for local horse shows.   She drove bus for Mid Prairie.   And she along with Ed owned  Mr. Ed's for over 25 years.  Marilyn and Ed were owners of Grout Helicopter.  They enjoyed many fly in breakfasts on Sunday mornings with their plane.  She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, playing cards, and crossword puzzles.  Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought much joy in her life.

Marilyn worked hard all her life as a loving wife and mother raising six children.  She is survived by her six children: Kathy Grout of Iowa City, Sandy (Jim) Gingerich of Wellman, Cherie (Daryl) Baker of Muscatine, Ron (Kathy) Grout of Grand Jct., CO., Rick Grout of Riverside and Becky (Bob) Ihrig of Riverside, 14 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren.

Preceding Marilyn in death was her husband Edwin in 1987, and her parents, Lovell and Grace Strickler.