Marcia Joan (Dow) Gustin

Marcia Joan (Dow) Gustin, the daughter of Edward and Ella (Brown) Dow, was born March 16, 1936 in Riverside, IL. She attended Riverside/Brookfield Schools, graduating in 1954. She later attended Grinnell College, graduating from Buena Vista College in 1958. Marcia and Marlin Lee Gustin were united in marriage on June 14, 1957 in Riverside, IL. To this union, three children were born: Melissa, Marilee, and Mark. Marlin and Marcia also hosted three foreign exchange students, Heidi & Sanna from Finland and Trond from Norway. From the time she was in kindergarten, Marcia knew she wanted to be a teacher and was involved in education for 36 years. With her passion for teaching, Marcia touched hundreds of lives in such a positive way. Marcia belonged to the United Methodist Church in Royal, United Methodist Women, Royal Federated Women, American Auxiliary Legion Post #248, the National Education Association and was on the Royal Library Board. She enjoyed reading, playing cards, dice, bowling and golf and had competed at the state level with her Hartley Golf team. Through the years, Marcia watched hundreds of ballgames of every kind between Marlin, their children, and grandchildren. She enjoyed attending her grandchildrens' other activities as well. These included plays, speech contests, music concerts, karate, swim meets, and cross country meets, to name a few. Marcia loved traveling the country with her family, and traveling the world with the love of her life. Marcia passed away at the Spencer Hospital on Thursday, January 8, 2015 at the age of 78. She was preceded in death by her parents: Edward Dow and Ella Trone; brothers, Bill, Edward, Gordon, Joseph, Donald, Jack & Jim Dow and sisters: Gladys Wilcutt & Betty Stoldt. Marcia is survived by her husband of 57 years, Marlin; her children: Melissa (Dan) Loving of Webb, Marilee (Dan) Kerber of Greenfield, IA and Mark (Pam) Gustin of Ft. Atkinson, WI; 8 grandchildren: Talli (Jesse) Ramey, Chris (Fiance' Ali Begeman) Kerber, Sara Kerber (friend, Kyle Thompson), Gustin & Maggie Loving, Gracie, Gabriel, & Garrison Gustin, and great granddaughter, Capri Ramey; many relatives and friends.

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