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Marilyn Carol Rosdail-Moller, 72, passed away Dec. 31, 2024.
Visitation will be held Saturday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m. at Gilbert Lutheran Church (135 School St.) in Gilbert. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. followed by a reception at the church.
She was born on April 19, 1952, to Milton and Marvel (Barr) Rosdail in Storm Lake. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Storm Lake.
Marilyn was the eldest child and helped her mother care for seven lively brothers and sisters while growing up. She helped cook and clean — and became an excellent seamstress — eventually earning the title “Miss Betty Crocker” for her homemaking knowledge. Marilyn also spent time with her father in the gas station and, later, his garage, where she may have helped him repair cars and, undoubtedly, rode with him in his wreckers. Those early mechanics skills might be how Marilyn got promoted to captain of the hot, dreaded morning ’til night detasseling crew. Showing up at 6 a.m. one morning, her detasselers were shocked and thrilled to find Marilyn in the driver’s seat of a huge machine that splayed out into four lanes.
In eighth grade she “broke her hip” and was allowed to drive to school with a special permit. Because of her injury, she had to give up her dream of being a cheerleader. She directed this passion towards sports in other ways, one year gathering friends in dad’s garage to make a float for the homecoming parade. In 1968 and 1969, the highlight was following the Storm Lake boys’ high school basketball team all the way to state championships.
Academically, Marilyn was gifted with curiosity, intellect and accomplishment. She excelled in difficult science and math classes, loving their challenges as much as she loved singing and swinging her long costume gown in the “My Fair Lady” school play. She sang in the school choir and helped as piano accompanist when needed. She loved her many extracurricular activities—and quickly became friends with all she met. Her kindness, big smile and inclusive spirit defined her as much as her quiet, dry wit. She was an avid reader and was constantly doing crossword puzzles. (She also had beautiful handwriting!)
Marilyn graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1970 and from Wartburg College (Waverly) in 1974 with a bachelor’s in economics. While she was in college (1973), she traveled to Europe with coed Barbara Weatherly, where they rode the train to many countries.
After college, Marilyn worked as an insurance adjuster. She moved from Des Moines to Dallas where she met Harold Moller. They were married on July 13, 1980, and she moved into his home on St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. They divorced in 1982; but one of her favorite tales was about living there for 13 years and surviving Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Later, she would talk about writing romance novels set in the Caribbean. After returning to Des Moines, Marilyn became a Realtor until she retired.
Her true, deep passion was travel and getting to know different cultures. She enjoyed a variety of cuisines but always loved Schwan’s chocolate ice cream with her family.
Those left to remember Marilyn are her mother Marvel Rosdail; siblings: Malinda Johnson, Mark Rosdail, Marjean (Jeffrey) O’Bannon, Max (Patricia) Rosdail, Melody Zadow, Mona Rosdail and Matthew (Diana) Rosdail; nieces: Megan Zadow, Alicia (Aaron) Rasmussen, Ashley (Kent) Recker, Melissa (Connor) McGuire, Lacey (John) Kuckelman, Whitney O’Bannon, Kelsey (Taylor) Hahn, Shelby O’Bannon, Chloe (Garrett) Felling and Alexandra Rosdail; as well as nephews: Ryan (April) Zadow, Austin (Kelly) Zadow, Hunter (Abbie) O’Bannon and Isaac Rosdail. She had 24 great-nieces and nephews.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her father Milton; niece Tara; several cousins: Leanne, Jay, Annette, Danielle, Jerrold, Katha, Lois, Karen and Larry; her long-time friend Robert Knowles; and former husband Harold Moller.
A special thank you to Virginia (Ginny) Lewis, a dear friend of Marilyn’s, for sharing her memories with us.
