Marvin Simons

Marvin L. Simons, 87, of Marcus, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at Cherokee Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at Grace United Methodist Church in Marcus. Rev. Dr. Travis Stevick will officiate. Burial will follow at Marcus Amherst Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 25, 2022, with the family present from 5-7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., all at the church. There will be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral. Arrangements are with the Earnest-Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus.

Marvin Simons was born on June 8, 1935, on the family farm south of Marcus, Iowa, the son of Donald William and Martha G. (Lepper) Simons. He was raised near Marcus and graduated from Marcus High School in 1953. Following graduation, Marv farmed with his family.

Marvin and JoAnn Weimer were united in marriage on April 19, 1958, at Grace United
Methodist Church in Marcus. He was drafted into the United States Army and served in Japan from
1958 to 1960. After earning an honorable discharge, Marv and JoAnn lived in Marcus for two years before moving to the family farm south of Marcus. They farmed together until JoAnn passed away on August 21, 2016. Marv later moved to Marcus but continued to farm.

Marv was a member of Grace United Methodist Church where he ushered. He served for over 50 years with the Marcus Fair Board where he primarily worked with weigh-ins. While on the farm he loved raising horses and cattle. Conversations with Marv were never short and he always had a joke to share. He is the last original member of the Red Jacket Bowling Team, belonged to a poker club and, in earlier years, attended the coffee group at Briggs Motors. One of his favorite pastimes was watching westerns, rodeos and sports, especially ISU and the Cowboys. Marv was a charter member of the Amherst Cultural Gymnastics Society. Above all, he cherished his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and never missed an event.

He will be lovingly remembered by his son, Rick Simons and his wife Brenda of Marcus, IA; a
daughter, Patricia JoAnn Simons of Sgt. Bluff, IA; grandchildren, Brittany Schknecht and her
husband, Jared of Sutherland, IA and Ryan Simons and his wife, Kayla of Marcus, IA; great-grandchildren, Brec Schknecht, Haylee Schknecht, Kaysen Simons, Maddy, Aspenn, Emmy and Scarlett Simons; sisters, Donna Leavitt of Marcus, IA, Beverly Drefke and her husband, David of Cherokee, IA and Bonnie Collins and her husband, Richard of Marcus, IA; a sister-in-law, Julie (Chuck) Sand of Marcus, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, JoAnn on August 21, 2016; two brothers, Wayne and Charles Simons; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Homer and Edna (Brown) Weimer; and a brother-in-law, John Leavitt.

Memorials in Marv’s name mat be directed to the Marcus Fair.