Maryls Whisler

Marlys Loretta (Wagner) Whisler, 95, Northwood, Iowa, formerly of Clear Lake, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

A funeral service for Marlys was held on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood, with the Rev. Judy Converse, of First Lutheran Church in Northwood, officiating.  Burial was in the Madison Cemetery, in Forest City, Iowa.   

Marlys Loretta (Wagner) Whisler was born on April 2, 1922, in Scarville, Iowa, the daughter of Sten and Johanna (Thompson) Wagner.  Marlys received her education in the Scarville community schools, graduating high school in 1940.  She also attended Waldorf College in Forest City.  Marlys first taught school in the rural country schools near Scarville, and Scarville Elementary School.

On Dec. 23, 1944, she was united in marriage to Paul Hawkinson.  He preceded her in death on June 24, 1970.  Maryls continued her teaching career for 25 years in various communities until she retired.

She was united in marriage to Lisle Whisler on May 11, 1973.  He preceded her in death on July 27, 2004.  In 1973, she and her husband began working at Opportunity Village, in Clear Lake, as house parents until 1985.  Maryls and Lisle moved to Mountain Lake, Minn. where she was a substitute teacher for a few years, until 2002. They moved back to Clear Lake and remained there until 2013, moving to the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood to be near her sister, Hazel Charlson.

Marlys enjoyed cooking, entertaining guests, and loved to spend time with her two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In her retirement years she enjoyed teaching Bible studies in homes in Garner and Ventura.

Those left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Kathy (Jerry) Nydegger, of Brainerd, Minn.; two grandchildren, Michelle Nydegger, of Brainerd and Michael (Irma) Nydegger, of Concord, Mich.; two great-grandchildren, Ezriela and Josiah Nydegger; three step-children, Byron Whisler, Mary Lee Hastie, and Sharon Macintosh; several nieces, nephews; and other extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sten and Johanna Wagner; two husbands, Paul Hawkinson, and Lisle Whisler; two sisters, Inez Langfald and Hazel Charlson; three brothers, Archie, Leslie, and Elmer Wagner; and a step-son, Dan Whisler.