Marlin Brittain

Marlin Brittain, 79, of Earlham, died Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at the Iowa State Fair. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 18 at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset with burial to immediately follow in the Earlham Cemetery in Earlham. A visitation will be held from 1 to 6 p.m., Sunday, August 17 at Ochiltree’s in Winterset; where family will be present to receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Memorials may be directed to a fund which has been established in Marlin’s name at the Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Box 29 of Winterset, Iowa 50273 to benefit the Iowa State Fair, Madison County Fair, American Cancer Society and American Heart Association. Marlin J Brittain was born September 13, 1934 in Madison County on the family farm near Earlham, the son of Clyde and Mildred (Prior) Brittain. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Earlham High School in 1953. His marriage to Gretchen Jamison took place on July 11, 1954 in Van Meter and to this union three children were born, Charles, Marla and Donald. Marlin would most wish to be remembered as being a farmer but he also worked for the Heartland Coop in Booneville and currently worked with the Burlington Northern Railroad taxiing railroad workers in and around central Iowa. He also worked, along with his wife, at EMC Insurance in Des Moines where he worked in the mail room and eventually had other duties. Marlin was also a longtime Iowa State Fair volunteer and eventually was a paid employee of the fair traveling around the state of Iowa with the Iowa State Fair Float and during the fair working as a parking lot superintendent. Marlin was a member of the United Methodist Church of Earlham as well as a lifetime member of the American Angus Association. He was also a member of the Madison County Fair Association having served on its board for over 35 years and had served as its president and secretary. He was also active in Lion’s Club and was a music and athletic booster who was helpful in developing the Sports Complex in Earlham. For many years Marlin and Gretchen owned and operated a food booth at the Madison County Covered Bridge Festival and when they gave this up they continued to volunteer for this event and in 1999 were honored with being named Covered Bridge King and Queen. Marlin loved his family and especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s activities. He also was also active in helping with the Little Tykes Peddle Pull. He is survived by his children, Charles Brittain and wife, Candice of Waverly, Marla Cory and husband, Stephen of Maxwell, and Donald Brittain and wife, Lisa of Earlham; a sister, Janet Williamson and husband, Jim of Earlham; a brother, Keith Brittain and wife, Bev of Stuart; sisters-in-law, Louise Sackett of Emmetsburg and Martha Jamison of Indianola; six grandchildren, Christopher (Amy) Brittain, Eric (Janda) Brittain, Kylene Brittain, Jennifer (Christopher) Holmes, Skylar Brittain and Brandon Brittain; three great grandsons, Connor Brittain, Kellen Brittain and Cory Holmes, several nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gretchen who died June 12, 2003; brothers-in-law, Robert Sackett and Floyd Jamison and a nephew.