Marva Lalk

Marva Leann Lalk, 93, of Oelwein passed away Monday November 30, 2020 at Hillcrest Home in Sumner.  Private graveside services will be held at Wilson Grove Cemetery in Sumner with Pastor Brian Boehmler officiating.  A public Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Samaritan’s Purse or St. Croix Hospice of Charles City.  The Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein is assisting the family.  For condolences, please visit www.geilenfeldfh.com.

Marva was born on February 24, 1927 on the family farm in Fayette County near Sumner, Iowa. She was the daughter of Albert and Josephine (Fossen) Potratz. Marva accepted Jesus as her Savior and Lord and was baptized by Rev. Zoschke on January 3, 1937 in the Elgin First Baptist Church, where she became a member. In 1944, she became a charter member of the First Baptist Church in Sumner, Iowa and later became a member of the First Baptist Church of Oelwein, Iowa. 

She attended the local country school and graduated from Sumner High School in 1944. Marva worked three years at Blades Variety Store in Sumner, Iowa. She took a summer course at Upper Iowa University and that qualified her to teach country school. She taught at her home school, Banks No. 4 for three years.

On November 9, 1951 she was united in marriage to John Lalk at the Sumner First Baptist Church and went on to have three children. They farmed for 38 years near Hawkeye, Iowa before moving to Oelwein, Iowa in 1989.

Marva taught Sunday school and many summer Bible schools in Sumner, Iowa and Canova, SD. She also served many offices in the Women’s Missionary Society and was Clerk of the Sumner church.

Marva LOVED the Lord and her family. She was loved and cherished by her family including many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed making Norwegian lefse and krumkake as well as such family favorites as scalloped potatoes, frozen corn, and deviled eggs. She loved being outside and enjoyed her garden, raspberries, and yard work.  Her family will always remember her as faithful, loving, and kind.

Marva was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John Lalk (2001), sister Burnita (Milton) Menke, brother Orval (Variena) Potratz, and sister-in-law Ruth Potratz.

Marva is survived by her older brother, Dr. Willis Potratz, and her children Donna (Scott) Kee of Bourbonnais, IL, Dennis (Gail) Lalk of Morristown, NJ, and Christine (Terry) Leyh of Sumner, IA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Rachel Kee, Ryan (Emily) Kee, Lauren Kee, Ellen Lalk, Rebecca Lalk, Joshua (Emily) Leyh, and Josie Leyh, and her great-grandchildren Jackson Leyh, Evan Leyh, and Leanna Kee.