Marian Emma Gifford

Marian Emma (Martin) Gifford, the daughter of Louis and Bertha (Buttemeier) Martin, was born on October 26, 1915, in Manson, IA. She moved with her family to Cherokee, IA, where she attended school, graduating from Wilson High School in 1933. Following graduation, Marian worked for Metropolitan Insurance. On May 2, 1935, she was united in marriage to Dale M. Gifford at the Immaculate Conception Church in Cherokee. They made their home in Cherokee, and Marian lovingly cared for her family. She also worked for J.C. Penny and Simmons' Market Store. Marian enjoyed playing cards, dancing, knitting and babysitting. She often had a large garden and canned much of the produce for her family. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting family. She had been a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and she was a member of the Degree of Honor. She was active in the UTU Auxiliary and the I.C. Ladies Union. Dale and Marian were long-time members of The Depot and the Northwest Iowa Archeological Society, where they received the Keyes-Orr Award for Outstanding Amateur Archeology. Marian was also active in the V.F.W. Auxiliary, Sioux Valley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and the Birthday Card Club. Marian was a longtime volunteer for the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, handling the weekly collections every Sunday for many years. Marian passed away at the age of 96, on Friday, April 13, 2012, at the Countryside Estates in Cherokee, IA. Preceding her in death were her parents, Bertha and Louis J. Martin, her husband, Dale, in 1998, a brother, Meredith Martin, and an infant daughter, Nancy Kay Gifford. Left to cherish her memory are her children and their families: Ron (Karen) Gifford of Indianapolis, IN, Jean Doran of Boone, IA, and Jim (Laura Karr) Gifford of Lebanon, IN; 6 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mildred Kempton of Shelbyville, KY; many other relatives and friends.

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