Marilyn Grote, age 84 of Wall Lake, IA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at
Twilight Acres in Wall Lake. Marilyn Mae Campbell was born on November 1, 1936, in Vail, IA, to parents William and Elsie (Koenck) Campbell.
She attended country school in the Wall Lake area, where she and her three siblings grew up. Marilyn graduated from Wall Lake High School as Salutatorian in 1955.
On June 7, 1956, Marilyn married the love of her life, Arnold Alfred Grote in Arcadia, IA. The couple lived in Dow City where Marilyn worked as a bookkeeper for Father Cain. Later, they would retire to Denison and then resided in Wall Lake for the last fifteen years.
Marilyn enjoyed being outside in her yard tending to flowers and her garden. She especially liked watching and feeding all of the beautiful birds. She was an avid reader all of her life. She and Arnie took many trips to Branson over the years which they both always looked forward to. Another favorite place Marilyn liked traveling to was Texas because it meant getting to see and spend time with her niece, Debbie and her family.
Marilyn was a wonderful wife, sister, aunt, and friend who will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 65 years, Arnie Grote of Wall Lake, IA; sister Sharon Richardson of Lake City, IA; brothers and sisters-in-law: Cheryl Campbell of Boyer, IA, Lois Grote of Wall Lake, IA, Mike Grote of Wall Lake, IA, Luella (Bob) Wilwerding of Defiance, IA, Walt (Kathy) Grote of Wall Lake, IA, and Sharon Grote of Fonda, IA; numerous nieces and nephews; other extended family members and friends.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Elsie Campbell; brothers Bill “Soup” Campbell and Roger
Campbell; parents-in-law Anton and Loretta Grote; sister-in-law Mary Ann (Jim) Meister; and brothers-in-law Tony Grote and Leo Grote.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS the family requests donations be made in Marilyn's memory to St. Anthony Hospice in Carroll, IA.
