Marion Patience

Marion Patience, 89, of Winterset went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at the Madison County Health Care System in Winterset. A visitation will be held from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 25, at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset, with family present from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 26, at Ochiltree Funeral Service with burial to follow in the Earlham Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Winterset Care Center South Activity Fund, Word of Life Youth Camp Scholarships, or the Cornerstone Family Church Mission Fund. Online condolences may be left for the family at ochiltree.com. Marion Leo Patience, youngest son of Andrew and Talitha (Butler) Patience, was born January 20, 1927, at Coin, Iowa. In 1942, the family moved to a farm near Dexter, Iowa, where Marion attended the Dexter school until he entered the Navy in September 1945 and was stationed at Camp Elliott in San Diego, California. After an honorable discharge in August 1946, Marion returned to Dexter to farm for himself and help his father. March 20, 1949, Marion and Berneita Jones were married at the Bear Creek Friends Church near Earlham, Iowa. Their first home was a mile east of Dexter, later moving to the Earlham area where they continued farming. In 1959, they moved to a farm in the Penn Center area where they resided 51 years and raised two daughters and two sons before moving to Winterset. Marion was active in all phases of farming, appreciating the elements of nature as a part of his daily life. He especially enjoyed his Black Angus cattle, recognizing the personality in various cows. Marion was also employed by the Farmers Coop at Earlham for 31 years, enjoying the visits with customers as he delivered petroleum products or assembled grain bins. Marion accepted Jesus as his Savior through the influence of one of his grade school teachers and has been open to the leading of the Lord throughout the years. Beginning in 1982, Marion, along with the family, attended Word of Life Family Church near Winterset where he thoroughly enjoyed working for the Lord. He was especially gifted in making visitors feel welcomed to the services; he had a warm greeting for everyone. When there was a problem in farming or everyday living, Marion was always saying, “Now, God will take care of it.” He had complete confidence his Heavenly Father would do just that. Marion and Berneita have opened their home to many foster children, the majority being infants who were placed in adoptive homes after spending a period of time with the Patience family. Marion proved there was so much truth in the phrase “Anyone can be a father, but it takes a special man to be a Dad.” He truly was a special Dad to anyone who needed one. The summer of 2003, Marion was selected to be “Iowan of the Day” at the Iowa State Fair. His entire family was with him as he received that honor. Another extra special occasion occurred October 2004 when Marion and Berneita were crowned as Madison County Covered Bridge Festival King and Queen. They enjoyed the honor to the fullest. Marion was a lifetime farmer and was blessed with a combination of God-given abilities and a trust in God that made farming truly a partnership between God and him. He knew he was entrusted with the care of God’s assets and tilling the soil and taking good care of his livestock. He didn’t just believe in hard work; he loved it, just as he loved the soil and his animals. Surviving are his wife Berneita, daughters Ruth Patience of Adel, Iowa, Rita Patience of Olathe, Kansas, and Ione Johnson of Lilliwaup, Washington, who through the years has been like another daughter, son Lance Patience and fiancée Lori Day of Des Moines, Iowa, foster son Jeff Peterson of Des Moines, Iowa, granddaughter Joy Santee and husband Jeff Lee of Lebanon, Illinois, grandson Philip Santee and wife Danielle of Earlham, Iowa, brother Glen Patience and wife Marilyn of Winterset, Iowa, and sister-in-law Mary Patience of Winterset. He was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Talitha Patience, brothers Herbert and Delbert, and sisters Jennie, Clara, and Martha.