Marilyn Quance

Marilyn Quance, 65, died peacefully on Friday, July 20, after a three-and-a-half-year battle with breast cancer. Marilyn was born in Des Moines on October 29, 1946. She graduated from St. Joseph's Academy in Des Moines in 1964 and married David Quance in 1966. Marilyn and Dave began their life together in Ames and moved to Eldora in 1973. During their years in Eldora, they raised two children. Marilyn worked at Second National Bank (later Security Bank). She also taught second grade catechism at St. Mary's Catholic Church and served on the parish's building committee during the construction of a new church. Marilyn also served on the Eldora-New Providence School Board. Dave and Marilyn moved to Spirit Lake in 1994, and Marilyn worked at The State Bank until her cancer diagnosis in late 2008. During their 45-year marriage, Dave and Marilyn shared a love for Iowa State football, the Iowa Great Lakes and, most importantly, their family and friends. Dave was Marilyn's best friend, and his sudden passing last November was a heartbreaking loss. Marilyn also was preceded in death by her father, Richard Sharp, and her sister, Connie Patterson. She is survived by her mother, Retha Sharp of West Des Moines; her sister, Ginny Hofbauer of Des Moines; her children, Karen Jeske (Doug) of Johnston and Chris Quance (Renee) of Spirit Lake; and three wonderful grandchildren, Delaney, Cameron, and Corbin Quance. She also will be missed by her brothers- and sisters-in-law and her eighteen nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Milford on Wednesday, July 25, at 1:30 p.m. The family will greet guests beginning at 12:30 p.m. and again during a church reception immediately following mass. Those seeking to memorialize Marilyn may consider spoiling a grandchild, cheering a little louder for the Cyclones or making an extra call to a special friend or family member.