December 8, 1934 - March 10, 2025
A funeral service for Marilyn Heesch, 90, of Titonka, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Good Hope Lutheran Church in Titonka. Visitation will be Friday, March 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Oakcrest Funeral Services of Titonka and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
Marilyn Ann (Jesse) Heesch died Monday, March 10, 2025, at the Titonka Care Center. She was 90 years old. Marilyn was born on Dec. 8, 1934, and baptized on Dec. 28, 1934, near Corwith. Marilyn was the daughter of George William and Bertha Josephine (Brown) Jesse.
At age 4 she attended a country school near Corwith. When the family relocated to Titonka at the age of 13, Marilyn enrolled in Titonka Consolidated School District and graduated in 1952. Marilyn was an active member of the Good Hope Lutheran Church where she was confirmed on April 10, 1942.
On July 1, 1952, she married Harold “Bud” Heesch at Good Hope Lutheran Church in Titonka. After a short honeymoon, Marilyn lived with her sister, Joy, and worked in Mason City while Harold returned to his Army duties during the Korean War. When Harold returned home from active duty they made their home on a farm just outside of Titonka, raising their three children; Bryant, Mark and Laurie.
While farming alongside her husband and later her sons, Marilyn tended to a large vegetable garden, the harvest of which the extended family enjoyed. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and regaling the family with a picture slide show after the trip. Marilyn was well known for her baking and cooking. Her fried chicken and mashed potatoes were family favorites, and angel food cake with strawberries and chocolate chip cookies were enjoyed by many. In her later years, Marilyn enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, whether it was playing dominos and cards, putting together a puzzle or watching them play sports.
She is survived by her three children: Bryant and Carol Heesch, Mark and Brenda Heesch, and Laurie and Ben Lee, all of Titonka; 11 grandchildren, Tracy and Chris Dales of St. Paul, Minn., Chris (Teresa) Heesch of Clear Lake, Stephanie (Michael) Cuevas of El Paso, Texas; Paige (Mitch) Schroeder of Lowden, Amanda (Jacob) Finer of Ankeny, Jenna (Taylor) Prothman of Algona, Michaela (Kyle) Franzen of Titonka, Treva Lee (Adam Hertzberg) of Minneapolis, Minn., Abigail (Jason) Brekken of Ham Lake, Minn., Meggie (Nick) Rohrer of Altoona and Joseph Lee of Titonka; 18 great-grandchildren, Jadyn and Brooklyn Heesch, Adrienne Dales, Addison and Ezekiel Cuevas, Kaden and Stetson Schroeder, James and Rowan Finer, Blayke and Islah Prothman, Kasen and Klayton Franzen, Liv and Hallie Brekken, and Quinn and Chloe Rohrer; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold “Bud” Heesch; her parents, George and Bertha Jesse; baby brother, Norman Jesse; sister, Joy Nelson; grandson, Calvin Lee; brothers-in-law, Melbourne and Virgil Heesch; and sisters-in-law, Alvina Brandt and Wilma Welhousen.
Oakcrest Funeral Services of Titonka in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.