Celebration of life for Marguerite J. Parker, 91, of Albert Lea will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. from the Asbury United Methodist Church in Lake Mills, Iowa. The Revs. Wendi Gillan and Gary Wiens will officiate. Burial will be at the Sunnyside Cemetery, Lake Mills. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church.
Marguerite Jensen Parker died on Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, at Thorne Crest Retirement Center with her daughter and son at her side.
Marguerite Josephine Tysver was born on April 19, 1917, on a farm near Gilmore City in Humboldt Cty, Iowa. She was one of five children born to Erick and Marian (Axelsen) Tysver. At the age of 3, Marguerite moved with her family to Minnesota where she was reared in the rural Bricelyn area. As a young woman, she developed an interest in caring for elderly people and was often commended by physicians for her ability to carry out their instructions.
On Nov. 9, 1935, Marguerite was married to Joy Lloyd Walter Jensen at Mason City, Iowa. The couple settled in Albert Lea and had two children, Mary Elizabeth and Larry Allen. Joy L.W. Jensen passed away on Aug. 26, 1956. After raising her children at Albert Lea and Kiester, Marguerite returned to her interest in caring for older people as a domestic until her retirement in 1980. On June 5, 1982, Marguerite was married to Clarence Earl Parker, her brother-in-law of 46 years, at Blue Earth. They made their home in a retirement suite at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge, Iowa. They enjoyed their 10 years together traveling and spending time with family and friends. Clarence died Dec. 17, 1992.
Marguerite moved to Albert Lea in the fall of 1998 and later settled at Thorne Crest in the summer of 2002 after a series of mini-strokes. She was honored to have been featured in the Nov. 14 article about Hospice care in the Albert Lea Tribune.
Marguerite is survived by her daughter, Mary (Gary) Onken, Windom: her son, Larry Jensen, Albert Lea; her step daughter, Jean Mlinar, Cresco, Iowa; three granddaughters; two grandsons; two stepgrandsons; 10 great-grandchildren, two twin great-great granddaughters expected this week; seven step great-grandchildren; and two step great-great grandchildren. Also surviving are one sister, Wanda Stover, Columbia, Mo., one brother, Elmer Tysver, Bricelyn, and many well-loved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Joy Jensen and Clarence Parker; a brother, Milford; a sister, Serena; a brother-in-law Byron Stover; sisters-in-law, Pauline Tysver and Angie Tysver; a stepson-in-law, Keith Mlinar; and a step great-great grandchild.