Marlene R. Goodale

October 5, 1934 - October 6, 2024

Visitation

Date: October 10, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Champion Funeral Home - Osage, Iowa

Funeral Service

Date: October 10, 2024
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Champion Funeral Home - Osage, Iowa

Burial

Date: October 10, 2024
Location: Liberty Cemetery - Little Cedar, Iowa

Marlene R. Goodale, age 90, of Osage, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at her home. Marlene was born on October 5, 1934, in Mitchell County, Iowa, the daughter of George and Esther Emerson. She was baptized in the Baptist Church. Marlene attended Little Cedar High School, where she played 6 on 6 basketball, graduating in 1952. On February 14, 1953, Marlene married Vernon Goodale in New Haven, Iowa, from this union they had seven children. Marlene worked for decades as a farmer’s wife, raising her children, tending to livestock, and cooking meals for the family and hired help (many who were eager for the meals as they were for the pay). Eventually, she would work as a cook at the Maple Inn in Osage, IA, where her pies were the highlight of coffee time for many retirees. Marlene enjoyed music, drama, and sports, frequently attending such events in which her grandchildren participated, and recounting stories of her own participation in school plays, basketball games, and so on. She was a fan of George Strait, a proud member of the George Strait Fan Club. His music was guaranteed to get her on the dance floor even when nothing else could. Marlene loved her cats and dogs, often fussing over them as if they were a second set of children. She also had a deep love for her children’s and grandchildren’s pets, playing with them at every opportunity. Marlene enjoyed puzzles of all kinds, including crosswords, sudoku, word find, and jigsaw puzzles. She credited them for keeping her mind sharp, and her children and grandchildren often made it their mission to find an interesting and difficult puzzle to try to stump her. They failed. Marlene was a master cook, especially when it came to her candies and pies, and for years it was her responsibility to bring the pies and other homemade candies to family gatherings. Fortunately, in recent years, a few of her grandchildren learned some of her techniques to keep the tradition alive. Marlene enjoyed travel and frequently reminisced about her trips to visit her granddaughter in Seattle and later in Dallas. At such times, she fondly recalled detours through Chinatown, a mistaken entry into her son-in-law’s workplace, and meeting Charlie Pride in the airport on her way home. Finally, Marlene enjoyed spending time with her family and looked forward to regular visits from her children and grandchildren. Marlene is survived by her daughters Joyce Huisman of Forest City, IA, Jolene (Gary) Hemann of Osage, IA, JoAnn (Max) Huntley of Adams, MN, Jeanette (Mike) Mayer of Stacyville, IA, Janice Foster of Riceville, IA, Jody (Mark) Osmundson of Adams, MN, and daughter-in-law Darla Walling Goodale of Stacyville, IA, Grandchildren; Erik Goodale, April (Ryan) Goodale Hannam, and their daughter’s, Grace and Jenna; Abby (Michael) Goodale Palsic; Jed (Jen) Hemann, and their sons Braden and Talin; Jesse (Stacy) Hemann, and their children Drew and Taylor; Joseph Hemann and his children Ava and Jackson; Jake (Nina) Goodale and their sons Bishop, Spencer, Eli, and Joseph; Justin (Lacey) Huisman and their children Sophie and Henry; Ashley (Jake) Mayer Wilberding and their children McKenzie and Aiden; Brooke (Nathan) Mayer Zuehl and their daughters Quinn and Kennedy; and granddaughter Sheena Foster. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Esther Emerson, brothers; Carroll Emerson and Dean Emerson, husband; Vernon Goodale, son; Jack Goodale, son-in-law; Gary Foster, and grandson Jason Huisman. A Funeral Service will be held Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the Champion Funeral Home in Osage, IA, at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Gary Gilbert officiating. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at Champion Funeral Home. Burial will take place at the Liberty Cemetery in Little Cedar, IA. Champion Funeral Home of Osage is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.schroederfuneralhomes.com.