Iva Mae Howard

Iva Mae Howard, age 94, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away with her three children by her side on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Glenwood Place in Marshalltown.

Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at First Congregational Church, 312 West Main Street, Marshalltown. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation one hour prior to the funeral service. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Iva was born on May 12, 1929, at her grandmother's home on West Church Street in Marshalltown. She was the daughter of John W. and Audie (Campbell) Zesch. She attended Ferguson High School and graduated with the class of 1947. Iva grew up helping in the greenhouse owned by her parents and she remained a life­ long gardener. On September 2, 1947, Iva married George Howard at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. George and Iva farmed just outside Laurel for most of their lives. When they retired, they moved to Marshalltown to enjoy their later years. Iva was a long-time member of the Laurel Methodist Church and later joined the First Congregational Church in Marshalltown. She enjoyed her family, especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After her retirement she enjoyed traveling with George to various parts of the United States. They spent many enjoyable winters in south Texas.

She is survived by her three children: Georgia (Stan) Thomas of Marshalltown, Joyce Wagner of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Gary (Phyllis) Howard of rural Laurel; her grandchildren: Clay (Rhianna) Wagner of Greenwood, Arkansas, Bobbi (Chris) Taylor of Searcy, Arkansas, Samantha (John) Snyder of Edmond, Oklahoma, Eric Howard of rural Gilman and Allison (Sean) Frost of LeGrand; her great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don and Ruth Howard.

Iva is preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents, John and Audie; her sister, Dorothy Beem; and many other relatives.