Marlene Giermann

Marlene JoAnn Giermann was born February 1, 1934, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, the daughter of Rev. Lamar and Vanita (Schmidt) Winter. She passed away on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 91 years, 11 months and 22 days.

Marlene was baptized into the Christian faith in Corrine, Saskatchewan, by her father. As a very young girl, she moved with her parents and brother, Don, to Estevan, Saskatchewan, where she lived until moving to Iowa in 1945. She completed her education in the Kiron/Odebolt area, graduating from Odebolt High School in 1952.

In April of 1953, she married Milt Giermann of Kiron. This union was blessed with three adopted children: Michelle, Mark, and Sarah. Marlene was a friendly, outgoing person who loved entertaining and serving on many committees, both in her church and community. She served as District Secretary for eight years for the Western Iowa Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and as Lutheran World Relief Coordinator for Western Iowa. She was also a 4-H leader, choir member, and Sunday School teacher for many years. After working as a secretary for many years, she turned her skills toward furniture retail, which she loved and shared with her husband, Milt. Marlene loved life, and life loved her.

At the age of 74, Marlene completed her 25th week-long bike ride across Iowa (RAGBRAI), tenting all the way. She was proud of this personal achievement and once said it “would look good in her obituary.” She loved camping with her family and biked most of the trails in Iowa. She and Milt traveled to all but two states and toured across Canada in their motor home. She went on four cruises and visited Australia, New Zealand, the Panama Canal, Alaska, and the Maritime Provinces.

Her love of art, especially oil and China painting, was evident throughout her home and the homes of her friends. This passion later became a part-time business. She attained the ultimate China painter’s dream when one of her pieces was selected to be displayed in the World Organization of China Painters Museum in Oklahoma City, with the same scene featured in their Worldwide China Painters magazine. Marlene had a very soft spot in her heart for animals that wandered to their country home, they never left hungry. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a special blessing to her and were deeply loved.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Rev. Don Winter; husband, Milt Giermann;  son, Mark Dana; and daughter, Michelle Diane.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Sarah (Robert) Robles; grandchildren: Jeremy Giermann (Tasha), Trama (Eric) Vetter, Sam Giermann, Alyssia Giermann, other grandchildren and special grandchildren, Madeline and Ariana Robles; great-grandchildren; friend, Lyle Frazier; and other family members and friends.

Visitation with family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison. Her funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, also at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison. Interment will follow in Crawford Heights Memory Gardens in Denison. Memorials may be directed to Our Savior Lutheran Church.