Marlen Craig Pellersels, age 81, of Sac City, IA, passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2017, at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, IA, from complications of pneumonia. 

     Marlen, born November 9, 1936, was one of two children born to Robert and Ilene (DeBourgh) Pellersels.  He was born at home and only weighed 4 lbs. and 7 oz. which included the steel cake pan and blanket.

     He attended country schools through the 8^th grade, finishing his 4 years of high school in town and graduated with the class of 1955.

     He joined the U.S. Air Force July 22, 1955.  After his discharge in 1959, he farmed and used his GI Bill to obtain his commercial flight instructor and instrument ratings.  He loved to fly and co-owned a plane with some friends.  Marlen farmed most of his life.  In the 1960’s he joined the United States Postal Service and was a rural carrier until his retirement in 1992.  At one time or another, he carried all routes out of Sac City, Nemaha, and Lytton. 

     Marlen married Ethel Jean Myers in 1960.  Two sons were born of this marriage: Jeffrey and Craig.  They divorced in 1985 and he later married Judy (Throne) Eickhoff in 1989.  He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, coffee with his friends, and eating chocolate cake.  Marlen especially loved fishing (but not necessarily eating them) and enjoyed many fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada.  A summer day usually ended with him fishing in his farm pond. 

     Marlen is survived by his wife, Judy; sons: Jeffrey (Terri) Pellersels of Woodbury, MN, and Craig Pellersels of Sac City;  three step-children: Angela (Wayne) Plager of Hollywood, MD, Elizabeth Eickhoff of Newell, and Christopher Eickhoff of Tama; sister and brother-in-law Karen (Merle) Karstens of Oakland, NE; two grandchildren: Paige and Rece; three step-grandchildren: Derek, Kody, and Jaden; brother-in-law Nolan (Sandy) Throne of Muskegon, MI; sister-in-law Barbara (Roger) Welte of Omaha, NE; and numerous nephews and nieces.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert in 1982 and Ilene in 2010.


     In lieu of flowers memorials will be given to the Loring Healthcare Foundation.