Marylyn Kay Bruce

On Sunday, March 21, 2021, Marylyn Kay Bruce passed away peacefully from complications after a fall, at the place she was born in 1938, Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Marylyn grew up in Norwalk, Iowa with her parents, William Stiffler and Verla Schwartstrauber. Some years later she was adopted by Verla’s second husband, Raymond Marsh. After moving to West Liberty, Iowa, the family grew with the addition of three boys: Don, Dave, and Bob Marsh. Marylyn graduated from West Liberty High School and kept many longstanding friendships and fond memories of West Liberty. Marylyn moved to Southern California, where she met William Bruce. They had two sons, Christopher and David, after which Marylyn moved back to Iowa to raise them. After relocating to Cherokee, Iowa, Marylyn then moved herself and her sons to Des Moines, where she secured a job with the State of Iowa. She had a 30-year career with Vocational Rehabilitation and forged many decades-long relationships with colleagues.

Marylyn was a founding member of the Capitol Park Neighborhood Association in Des Moines, the neighborhood where she lived for more than 40 years. An avid collector, she was well known throughout the city at all her favorite haunts. She was also a prolific quilter and enthusiastic Christmas celebrant. She hosted an annual holiday brunch for which she baked and was a generous gift giver. Traveling was also something Marylyn enjoyed thoroughly, making many friends on her journeys to Mexico and Europe, as well as on her extensive travels within the United States. She gardened for herself and for her neighborhood. Music was one of her true loves, especially jazz. Her taste in music, like her taste in collectibles, was also eclectic. A devoted fan of the Iowa State Fair, Marylyn rarely missed an opportunity to attend as many times every year as she could. She was a social being extraordinaire, and managed to make and maintain durable bonds—no strangers, as they say. She was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church, where she was appreciated by her fellow congregants. Marylyn also had many friends at the North Des Moines Senior Center. When Marylyn's dementia worsened in 2020, she was admitted to Good Samaritan Society in Indianola, Iowa, where she was cared for by a loving staff.

Marylyn is survived by her sons, David Bruce, Chris Bruce (Elizabeth); siblings, Don Marsh (Becky), Dave Marsh, Janet Johnson, Randy Stiffler, Debbie Neider, Tammy Stiffler; all the Stiffler cousins in Norwalk, Iowa, and their families; numerous nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a wonderful menagerie of friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Fred and Maude Stiffler, Enola Schwartstrauber, and Adeline Kempka; parents, William Stiffler, Verla Schwartstrauber, and Raymond Marsh; and brother, Robert Marsh.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.

Please email your contact information to: CelebrateMarylyn@gmail.com. I will contact you with further details about the Celebration of Life as they become available.

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