Margaret Jean Overland, 95, died on July 6th at the Good Samaritan Center, Postville, Iowa. The funeral will be held Monday, August 7th at 11:00 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville, with visitation one hour before the service.
Margaret was born on August 17, 1921, in Waukon, Iowa, the second of four children of Earl H. and Beulah (Hellickson) Markley. She graduated from Waukon High School in 1938, after which she was employed as a secretary at Mid-Continent Petroleum in Waterloo.
She married James Martin Overland of Postville on September 12, 1941, at St. John Lutheran Church in Waukon. Together, they developed an acreage south of Postville that included the Overland Hatchery, a feed store, a facility for laying hens for commercial egg production, and their home. Jim died February 9, 2004.
Margaret was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville, serving as the Sunday School Superintendent for many years. She was a member of WELCA where she was a Bible Study leader. She was also a 60-year member of Chapter FT, P.E.O.
Margaret came of age during the Depression. From her hard-working parents, her hardy Norwegian grandmothers, and the challenging times, she learned life skills and absorbed a pitch-in-and-do-what-needs-to-be-done ethic that would be the foundation of her long life.
She enjoyed working in her yard and garden and especially looked forward to the sprouting of her asparagus and rhubarb patches.
Margaret was a skilled cook and baker. Her children came to expect dessert at the conclusion of every meal. They and their college roommates enjoyed her cookies and brownies while the ladies in her Circle welcomed her cream puffs and angel food cakes. Decembers were spent creating the labor-intensive Norwegian specialties that made her family’s Christmas season special.
Margaret’s great joy was caring for her family. In later years, she looked forward to the holidays and occasions when her dispersed family would, once again, gather in her home. She adored her grandchildren and marveled at the arrival of great-grandchildren.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband; an infant son, Mark James; her brothers, James (Golda) and Robert (Barbara); brothers-in-law, Ernest (Shirley) and Robert; sister-in-law, Geneva (Elmer) Schuyler; niece, Dianne Overland; nephew, Billy Overland; and son-in-law, Lowell Brandt.
Margaret is survived by her children, Jennifer (Mark) Zieman of Postville, Jeffrey Eric of New Haven, CT, Paula Brandt of Iowa City, and Joel Lief of Spring Green, WI; her grandchildren, Wendy (Kevin) Suddendorf of Houston, TX, Becky Zieman of Urbandale, Doug (Dawn) Zieman of Postville, and Amy (Dan) Norton of Asbury; her great grandchildren, Kylie and Kole Suddendorf, and Leah and Evan Norton; her sister, Mary Bess (Ivan) Chester of Cedar Rapids; her sisters-in-law, Blanche Overland of Plymouth, MN, and Gail Markley of Cedar Rapids; along with many nieces and nephews.
Margaret’s family is grateful for the care that was given to her by the staff at the Good Samaritan Center, where she had resided since 2012. Memorials may be directed in Margaret’s name to the Good Samaritan Center or St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville.
Funeral Services will be at 11:00 am on Monday, August 7, 2017 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Postville, Iowa with a one hour visitation before services at the church on Monday. Rev. Lynn Noel will be the Officiant.
Interment will follow at the Postville Cemetery, Postville, Iowa.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Postville, Iowa is helping the family with arrangements.