Edna Catherine "Ted" Couch

Edna Catherine 'Ted' Couch, 98, of Marshalltown, passed away March 28, 2014 at the Villa del Sol, in the care of the Villa, Hospice and her family. A celebration of her life will be 2 p.m., Saturday, May 24 at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Marshalltown. Burial will be in Marathon, near Spencer at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Anderson Funeral Homes, Marshalltown and Warner's Funeral Home, Spencer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Iowa River Hospice or the Emergency Food Box of Marshall County. Edna 'Ted' Couch was born April 6, 1915 in Winchester, Ill., to John Edward and Amelia Metzler Markillie. Although her real mother died in 1916, she had a happy childhood with her father and loving stepmother, Caroline Coultas. Ted graduated from Winchester High School and attended Illinois State University to become an elementary school teacher. Later, she graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, teaching both in Illinois and in Iowa. In 1937, she met William (Bill) Couch, from Marathon, who was working on a school administrator degree, while both were attending summer school in Colorado. They were married June 26, 1938 at the Little Brown Church, in Nashua. When their daughters were born, Ted stayed home to care for them, going back to teaching in 1950. They lived in several different Iowa communities during their careers. Ted was active in school events, PEO, Ikes' Club, nature clubs and especially the Methodist Church. She enjoyed singing in church choir, the Messiah, weddings, etc. She also taught Sunday school and belonged to various church 'circle' groups. She and Bill always enjoyed their family and many friends, both near and far. They traveled in the United States, Mexico, Canada and took a cruise to Alaska. They loved spending time with family and hosting get-togethers at their lake home near Lake Okoboji. In 2003, they moved to the Embers in Marshalltown to be nearer to their family. Ted is survived by daughters, Miriam Owens of Bonners Ferry, Idaho and Sally Klinkefus (Orlin) of Marshalltown, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William and son-in-law, Douglas Owens. Ted will always be remembered for being a faithful Christian, her loving spirit, selfless nature and happy acceptance of whatever life brought her way.

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