Obituary of Margery Bak

A visitation for Margery Bak of Spirit Lake, will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.

Margery (Marge) Ann Bak, age 92, entered into eternal rest on April 29, 2024 at Accura Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa. 

Marge was born on November 30, 1931 on a farm in rural Anthon, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Mildred (Weathers) Huffman. She was the second youngest of their six children. Marge attended rural school and graduated from Anthon High School as Salutatorian in 1950.

Marge met and married Ernest (Ernie) Julius Iwen in 1950 and from this union, three children were born: Gene, Susan and Curtis. The family lived in Denison, Anthon, Correctionville and Cushing, Iowa before arriving in Spirit Lake in 1958. In 1962, Marge became a single parent and balanced her family and her professional career. She was the best at creating nutritious meals on a shoe string budget.

Marge's work career was accounting, working as a bookkeeper for Fred Parsons and Consumers Lumber/Building Industries. She was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Business and Professional Woman's Club.

In 1984, Marge's love of dancing led to meeting Borge Bak at a singles club dance. This shared interest in dancing led to a friendship and partnership that lasted for years. On August 19, 2000, Marge married Borge (Doc) Bak and from this union six additional children, Dennis, Julie, Dana, Wendy, Dale and Trudy, were brought into the family. What Marge enjoyed the most was working in her flower gardens. She was always busy planting, transplanting and enlarging her flower beds. Marge and Borge loved to drive around the Lakes area to see what changes had occurred and the sights on the lakes.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sister, Jeannie (Don) Needs; children, Gene (Deb Wilke) Iwen, Susan Booth, Cheryl Bak (step-daughter), Julie Bak, Dana (Linda) Bak, Wendy Shafer-Bak, Dale (Julie) Bak and Trudy (David) Schumacher; nineteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Margaret Huffman; many nieces and nephews.

Marge was preceded in death by her husband, Borge (Doc) Bak; parents, Charles and Mildred Huffman; siblings and spouses, MinaBelle (Ray) Anfinson, Maureen (Niles) Holister, Don Huffman and Bob (Florine) Huffman; son, Curtis Iwen; son-in-law, Steve Booth; stepson, Dennis Bak and step-son-in-law, Pete Hussmann.