11/23/2014
Obituary for Marilyn Joan Simpson Marilyn Joan Simpson was born July 20, 1936 in Dallas, Iowa to John Calvin and Alta Mae (Loynachan) Miller.
She was raised in the Melcher-Dallas area and attended country school, eventually graduating from Knoxville High School. Marilyn worked for Meredith Publishing in Des Moines and later for the Knoxville V.A. Hospital.
On December 29, 1956, she was united in marriage to Ronald Simpson, at the First United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Iowa. To this union, two daughters were born: Denise and LaNae. As the girls entered school, Marilyn reentered the workforce as a teacher’s aid and secretary for the Knoxville Community Schools. She worked at Nora-Sullivan, West Elementary, and East Elementary before retiring in 1996.
Marilyn was a member of the Iowa Phi Master Sorority, the Garden Club, the First United Methodist Church, and the Rachel Circle at the church. In her spare time, she enjoyed flower gardening and volunteering at the Knoxville Area Community Hospital.
Marilyn will be remembered as a compassionate, giving, and very organized person. Above all else, she was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family always came first and some of her greatest joys were spending time with her grandchildren and watching them grow.
Marilyn passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2014, at the Iowa Methodist Hospital, in Des Moines, at the age of 78 years. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband Ron; daughters: Denise (Kerry) Mounsey of Ankeny and LaNae (Jerry) Reyburn of Geneseo, Illinois; brother, Marvin (Alberta) Miller of Knoxville; 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Funeral Service First United Methodist Church – Knoxville, Iowa Friday, November 28, 2014, at 1:00 p.m.
Pastor Brent Hanna, officiating Musical SelectionsGeoff Shultz, organist “How Great Thou Art”“In the Garden” Casket BearersAndrew Reyburn, Daniel Reyburn, Jerry Reyburn, Kerry Mounsey, Ron Miller, Don Miller, Josh Michel Interment Graceland Cemetery – Knoxville, Iowa. 
For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to S.O.S. or to the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation.
The family will receive friends 2 hours prior to the funeral at the First United Methodist Church.
The family invites relatives and friends to return to the First United Methodist Church for lunch following the committal service.