Marlene Joann Werner
Marlene Joann Werner
Coralville
Marlene Joann Werner (nee Lorenz) died peacefully on May 25, 2025.
Marlene was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 12, 1948 to Richard and Josephine Lorenz. She attended Maine East High School and was the editor in chief of her high school newspaper. She met her loving husband of 56 years, John, on a blind date during their freshman week of college at Drake University in Des Moines. It was truly love at first sight.
Marlene obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and taught in the Cedar Rapids and South Tama school districts, supporting John’s law school education and raising two daughters, Alison and Megan, in Tama, Iowa and then in Des Moines, Iowa.
She and John retired to Tama, Iowa where they spent their days in each other’s company. The were able to travel to Canada, Mexico, Scotland and Ireland. They loved to fish together at Lake Marie. She will be remembered as a cherished wife and mother, a good friend and a caregiver to her parents and in-laws in their final days. She was always a good sport and supported us with her wit and wisdom.
Marlene is survived by her husband, John and her daughters Alison Werner Smith (Tyson) of Iowa City and Megan M. Gerhardt of Oxford, Ohio (Matt), along with grandchildren AJ, Gwendolyn and Eleanor. She is also survived by her brother, Richard Lorenz (Kathy) of Sun City West, Arizona, and brother-in-law Mark Werner (Christine) of Peel, Arkansas and many friends who will remember her laughter, her kindness and her endless ability to cook for twice as many people as will eat at any given table.
The family will have a private burial at St. Stanislaus cemetery in rural Johnson County.
A celebration of life for family and friends will be held on Sunday, June 22 from 9:00 am until 11:00 am at the Hotel Millwright in Amana, Iowa.
Special thanks to the staff in Memory Care at Stirlingshire in Coralville, Iowa, especially Brooke and Becky. The family extends its true appreciation to Sun Crest Hospice, who was helpful in their time of need.
If you wish to remember Marlene, plant something in your garden or a pot and remember her fondly.
Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.lensingfuneral.com.