Marilyn Marie Bode

Marilyn Bode, aged 78, of Perry, died on May 8, 2023.

Marilyn was born in her parent's home on a farm south of Stuart, Iowa on April 25, 1945.  Marilyn went to grade school in Dexter and attended high school in Earlham, graduating in 1963. She studied Home Economics at Iowa State University where she received her B.S. in 1967.

Marilyn married Don Eichner in 1967 and became the parents of two children, Jill and Ben Eichner. Marilyn then chose to study housing, focusing on energy conservation and indoor air quality, and earned an MS in 1982 and a Ph.D. in 1986 from Iowa State University.

Marilyn married Wesley Bode in 1990, acquiring two step-children, Holle and Skyler Bode.  They became a family with four college-age children.

Marilyn worked at ISU, the University of Minnesota, and Kansas State University.  She retired from Iowa State in 2010.

Marilyn had a passion for music, she was a life-long pianist, played trumpet and french horn in high school, and rang handbells at numerous churches for about 45 years. Marilyn especially enjoyed attending any musical performance that her children or grandchildren were a part of. Marilyn also used her home economic skills to create costumes for the Earlham Musical Theater Department while her grandchildren were in the Earlham Schools.

Marilyn and Wes enjoyed traveling and experiencing different cultures from Costa Rica, all the way to New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Peru, Panama, Mexico, and Canada.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Vivian (VanDyke) Lawson.  Marilyn developed her love of music from her father, and they enjoyed playing duets, including Clayton’s Grand March, and were always impressed when they ended the piece together. Vivian was a hero in Marilyn’s eyes. Marilyn had polio and after a lengthy hospitalization, Vivian continued physical therapy with her at home, where she regained the use of her arm.  Marilyn gave all the credit to her mother’s perseverance, which allowed her to create music.

She is survived by her husband, Wes Bode; her daughter Jill Eichner Brown (Luke), her son Benjamin Eichner (Joanne), her step-son Skyler Bode (Shirley), her stepdaughter Holle Andersen (Loren), and seven grandchildren: Ehlana and Garion Brown, Avery and Luca Andersen, Zane Eichner, and Martin and Agatha Bode.  Also surviving is her brother Bruce Lawson (Dianna) and their families.  Marilyn was preceded in death by her sister-in-law Phyllis and several cousins.

She would appreciate memorial contributions to a food bank, an educational organization, the ACLU, or Planned Parenthood.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, May 15, 2023 at Peace Lutheran Church, 34128 L. Ave., Adel. Burial will be at Iowa Veterans Cemetery at a later date.