Marlene Yvonne (Welch) Abel

     MARQUETTE — Marlene Yvonne (Welch) Abel, 87, of Marquette Iowa passed away peacefully on January 10, 2024 surrounded by family at the Great River Care Center in McGregor.

     Funeral services are pending. See graufuneralhomes.com for updates.

     Marlene was born on Aug. 12, 1936 to Lloyd and Caroline (Papacek) Welch of rural McGregor.  She graduated from Monona Community School in 1954.  On May 17, 1957, she was united in marriage to Harry G. Abel.  Together they raised eight children along with various pets in Marquette.  She ran a home-based upholstery business and would make just about anything with a needle and thread.  One of her greatest joys was spending time with family and friends, especially with the special card club ladies for over 66 years.  Her smile was able to make all the worries of the world fade away.   She was guided by her strong faith and always had a rosary within reach.  Marlene was a devout member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of McGregor. 

     She is survived by her husband, Harry G. Abel of Marquette; children:  Dean (Elizabeth) Abel of Walworth, Wis., Perre (Peggy) Abel of Marquette, Scott (Susan) Abel of North Palm Beach, Fla., Cheri (Scott) Smith of Appleton, Wis., Joni (Dean) Chamberlain of Old Greenwich, Conn., Jon (Mary) Abel of Cedar Rapids, Amy (Jeremy) Diehl of Marquette;  grandchildren:  Terre, Alisha, Anna, Emily, Karly, Kristin, Sarah, Elli, Madeline, Rachel, Jackson, Julia, Chloe, Nina, Bryce and great grandchildren: Alydia, Brayson, Aiden, Mason, Adam, Everett, Abigail, Ella, Owen, Theodore, Georgia, and Wilson.   Sister-in-law Darlene Oesterle, Nathan, Emma, and a wonderful, large list of nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Ralph and Claire Welch, daughter Mari (Paul) Eggen, brother-in-law Eugene Oesterle, and granddaughter-in-law Beth Abel.

     The family would like to thank Turner Point Assisted Living, Great River Care Center and St. Croix Hospice for all the support through the end stages of Marlene’s life. 

     In lieu of flowers/gifts, the family graciously requests that donations be made in Marlene’s name to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Catholic Daughter’s of America, or any Humane Society.  Cards can be sent to C/O The Abel Family, PO Box 336, Marquette, IA 52158.

     Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, McGregor is helping the family with the arrangements.