Beatrice "Bea" Niblock

Beatrice “Bea” Niblock, age 74, of Marshalltown, longtime area educator, principal and school board president, passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, December 18th, at the Iowa River Hospice Home with dear friends at her side.

Abiding by her wishes, she wanted to bow out of this world quietly, so no formality will occur. She will be laid to rest with her mother in the Mt. Hope Cemetery at Maquoketa, Iowa. If one is so encouraged, memorials may be directed to places of education in her honor. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Bea at this time. 641-844-1234. www.mitchellfh.com.

Born on November 17th, 1949, in Clinton, Iowa, she was delivered as a born educator. She was the daughter of Earl and Helen (Botkin) Niblock and graduated from the Maquoketa High School in 1968. In 1972, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin Platteville and in 1976 with her Master’s Degree from the same. She furthered her studies at the University of Pennsylvania, University of North Carolina and Western Illinois University receiving her Administrative Degree in 1988. She also received her MBA from St. Ambrose University in 1987.

In 1988, she began a colorful career dedicated to children starting in Chariton, Iowa. In 1994 until 1996 she served the West Liberty Public Schools and in 1996 came to Marshalltown. She was a part of the Anson Elementary School until retiring in 2013.

Retirement was part of the plan for many, but not Bea. She ran for school board in the fall of 2013 and served as president of the board until the fall of 2021. All in all, Bea was involved for 49 years in education. A very fitting tribute to be was the MCSD Welcome Center named in her honor.

Bea is survived by her brother Lee Niblock, a niece Allisa (Sam) Spencer and their daughter Evelyn, and her family by choice- the Anson School staff- which she dearly loved and stood by her side with the final illness that diminished her abilities (not her passions) the past few years. They in turn loved her back.

In death, she rejoined her dad who passed in 1971, her mom who died in 1995 and her sister Helen Fahlsing last December.