Marvin Dale Dvorak

Marvin Dvorak, 90, of Oskaloosa passed away, Tuesday, January 19, 2016, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Marvin Dale Dvorak, son of Jerry Edward and Jennie Ella (Kramer) Dvorak, was born April 29, 1925, at his parents’ rural Walker, Iowa home. Following his education at Walker High School, Marvin enlisted in the Army. He was initially sent to Scotland and then to England and was one of the brave souls that flew into France on a glider on D-Day. He was wounded in France and spent the last year of his service at Mayo General Hospital in Galesburg, ILL. Upon his discharge, he was awarded the European/African/Middle Eastern Ribbon with four Bronze Stars. After his release from the hospital, he returned to Walker. August 19, 1946, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Williams. To this union, two daughters were born. They later divorced. Marvin worked for a number of companies including Peterson Bakery, Montgomery Wards, and Colonial Bread, before earning his insurance license and moving to Manchester, IA in 1960 to manage the Farm Bureau Insurance Agency. In 1968, Farm Bureau transferred him to the Oskaloosa office where he was the director of Mahaska and Keokuk counties. He remained with Farm Bureau until his retirement in 1988. March 9, 1972, Marvin was united in marriage to Joan (Gilchrist) Holm in Albia, Iowa. They made their home in Oskaloosa. Marvin was a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church where he served as deacon and elder. He was also a member of the local Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Eastern Star, the American Legion and the V.F.W. Marvin was able to go on one of the first Honor Flights to Washington D.C. to see the WWII Memorial. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and the out-of-doors; his back yard was his sanctuary, feeding the birds, planting trees and maintaining his yard were labors of love for him. He made many friends through the years and looked forward to breakfast and coffee at the local restaurants. Marvin was blessed with five children; he treasured each of them as they did him. Marvin’s family includes his children and their spouses, Cindy and Steve Muhl of Scottsdale, AZ, Debi and Mike Gifford of Jacksonville, FL, Mary and Larry Veenstra of Oskaloosa, Jan and Marty Langel of Cedar Rapids, and Doug and Susan Holm of Grand Bay, AL; seven grandchildren: Alisha (Brian) Koborg, Ashely Muhl, Lacey (Josh) Gay, Brooke (Evan) Wickenkamp, Heather Holm, Wesley Holm and Taylor Langel; three great-grandchildren: Hayley and Beau Koborg and Dawson Gay; a sister, Violet Floyd of Hackensack, MN; and a special friend, Sharon Bower of Oskaloosa. In addition to his parents, Marvin was preceded in death by his wife, Joan on May 17, 2008, and a sister, Eulabel Dvorak.

Marvin Dale Dvorak

April 29, 1925 - January 19, 2016