Marvin Alvin Schmeling was born June 5, 1929 in Cylinder, Iowa, the son of Arthur and Rosa (Rambath) Schmeling. He graduated from Arnolds Park High School in 1946.
On October 31, 1948, Marvin was united in marriage to Mary Colleen (Johnson) Schmeling at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Terril, Iowa. Marvin and Mary farmed and milked cows in rural Milford, Iowa before retiring and moving to Fostoria, Iowa in 1994. Due to health concerns, they moved to the Spirit Lake area with the last few years spent at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake, Iowa.
Some of Marvin's most enjoyable times were spent with his grandchildren. He spent many enjoyable hours watching them play basketball, football, track, softball, baseball and going to cattle shows. Marvin and Mary spent lots of fun times playing cards. Marvin also enjoyed the many KICD tractor rides and tractor pulls he went to with his friend, Rod Boernsen.
Marvin passed away April 27, 2012 at Hilltop Care Center at eighty-two years of age.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 63 years, Mary, of Spirit Lake. Craig (Carol) of Everly, Laurie (Arnold) Bates of Milford, Marilea (Frank) Phelps of Spencer, Jane (Rod) Stevenson of Milford, Mike (Bobbi) of Milford and Mark (Sonja) of Brandon, SD, 19 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Also brothers, Virgil (Kathy) Schmeling of Moneta, Jerry (Karen) Schmeling of Burnsville, Minnesota, Leona (Maynard) Holtz of Everly; brother-in-law, Lee (Alyce) Shatto of Spencer; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Karen and Gary Jackson of Dickens; sisters-in-law, Genie Johnson of Nevada and Marge (Gary) Stoehr of Grundy Center.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Art and Rosa, one daughter, Marla Jo Schmeling, and one grandson, Scotty Schmeling, one brother Donald and his wife, Norma and two sisters, Stella Schmeling and Alice Shatto, brothers-in-law, Duane and Daryl Johnson.