Marilyn Goeldner

December 6, 1930 - August 3, 2015

Marilyn Goeldner died quietly from lymphoma at the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa on July 18, 2015 with two dear friends nearby. The firstborn of Leslie and Beulah (Bohrer) Goeldner, she began life in Fort Dodge, Iowa on December 6, 1930. She is survived by brothers Charles, of Boulder, Colorado and Allen, of San Antonio, Texas and their families. She is also survived by her adopted Boone family, the Thorngrens: Bonnie, Cristy, Susan, Erik and Elin. Following graduation from Earlham High School, she attended Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa), receiving a B.A. in Music Education in 1952. She earned her M.A. in Music from Colorado State College of Education (University of Northern Colorado). She taught for 38 years, starting out at Dunkerton, Casey, and State Center. In 1961 she arrived in Boone, where she taught vocal and instrumental music in the Boone Community School District for the next twenty-nine years. She was much loved by her students who remember her for sharing her travel stories at the beginning of the school year, making instruments, and her celebration of holidays. She carved and painted remarkable pumpkins for Halloween. Families flocked to the Christmas programs which she wrote herself and involved all her students in making stage sets, acting and singing. Many students credit their love of singing and music to Marilyn. Marilyn was an enthusiastic world traveler and visited 65 countries. She collected masks, musical instruments, and ethnic souvenirs from all of her travels. She captured her travels in remarkable photos and videos. Throughout the year, she delighted in going to estate sales and auctions, where she started new collections and added to old ones. Visitors marveled at her house which many thought of as a museum. The “museum” included numerous collections including pop bottles, old button hooks, glass insulators from electric poles, teddy bears, and over 200 crèches (manger scenes) many of which were purchased from her travels to over a dozen European Krist Kindl Markt tours. Marilyn was a faithful and devoted friend, sister, and aunt. She never forgot a birthday or special occasion and was renowned for her unique gifts that always reflected the recipient’s interests. She had a special GROUP of fellow teachers with whom she met every year for many, many years. Marilyn was part of the fabric of the community of Boone. She was an active member of the Boone Retired Teachers Organization and Questers, a group interested in antiques. She served as a guide at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace and participated in numerous local activities including building a train for Pufferbilly Days. Perhaps her first love, however, was the Boone Municipal Band. In addition to playing the clarinet, she was its secretary-treasurer, and helped with decorations for performances on special occasions. She proudly displayed a plaque presented to her by the band in 2011, honoring her for fifty years of service. She will be sorely missed by all. Marilyn’s wishes were to be cremated. A memorial service will be held on Monday morning, August 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Boone with Pastors David Richardson and Tom Mason officiating. Interment will be in the Earlham Cemetery in Earlham, Iowa. Visitation will be held at the Stark-Welin Chapel in Boone on Sunday afternoon, August 2nd from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. with the family present during that time to greet friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Marilyn’s memory may be directed to the Boone Municipal Band, % Dave Richardson, 922 Union Street, Boone, Iowa 50036.