Marlene R. Kaduce

Forest City, Iowa - Marlene R. Kaduce, 78, of Forest City, died Monday, June 2, 2014 at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.

A visitation for Marlene will be held 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 5, 2014 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 North Clark St. Forest City, IA.

Private family graveside services will be held in Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal Lake.
Memorials may be directed to the Marlene R. Kaduce memorial fund in care of the family.

Marlene R. Kaduce was born January 17, 1936 in Crystal Lake, IA the daughter of Don and Marie (Helm) Hodson. She attended schools in Crystal Lake and graduated from high school there where she also played basketball. She was married to Max James to this union, one daughter Susan was born, they later divorced. Marlene was a devoted, loving and self-less mother to Susan. Marlene put her own needs on hold to care for and provide for her daughter.

Marlene returned to Forest City and worked for Don Anderson Realty, which later turned into M.B.T. Insurance where she continued to work for many years. She was then married to Sam Kaduce in 1979 at the Methodist Church in Forest City. Marlene also played an important role in her husband's repair business for many years. Marlene enjoyed working and maintaining the acreage, gardening and tending her flowers. She was a wonderful cook and baker, played the piano and enjoyed bowling in her free time. Marlene was gifted artistically in the area of crocheting, quilting, knitting, embroidering, tatting and sewing. She sewed each of her grandchildren a quilt after they were born. Marlene and Sam delivered motorhomes for Winnebago Industries together and went all the way to Alaska as well as other states on many memorable adventures. They packed their meals together in advance and towed vehicles rode greyhounds and flew back. They had many stories to share of harrowing adventures in the act of delivering motorhomes including making a lot of money laying over in Las Vegas
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Marlene was a wonderful grandma. When she knew her grandchildren were going to be at their home she began preparing goodies in advance such as chocolate chip cookies, Strawberries and angel food cake and layered jello as she loved to make her grandchildren feel special. Marlene was a collector of precious moments figurines. She had about 122 of them. Marlene and Sam loved to dance and they were great together on the dance floor together. Marlene also enjoyed her faithful companion "Babe" the black lab. Marlene had a way of putting up with other peoples rudeness and selfishness and to give them kindness and consideration in return. She would place her own needs on hold to please others. She enjoyed the times she spent with her family and friends and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. During the last two days as Marlene struggled to hang onto life Sam was there the whole time holding her hand and talking to her. He must have told her 75 times, "Marlene, you are the best friend I ever had." Sam was blessed to marry Marlene. She was his best friend and he told her that right up until the end.

Marlene will be sadly missed by her daughter, Susan (Jayme) Granata of Tampa, FL; husband, Sam Kaduce of Forest City; step-children, Steve Kaduce of Forest City, Kristin Kaduce of Mankato, MN and Julie Elbert of Sioux City; step-grandchildren, Sam, Olivia, Sadie, Noah, Isaac Elbert and Sophia and Giovanni Kaduce; two brother-in-laws, Maynard Kaduce and Jerry (Jolene) Kaduce.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Richard Hodson.