Marvin Lee Dooley

     Marvin Lee Dooley was born on October 10, 1923, in Magazine, Arkansas to MacGahey Littleton and Ola Rae (Stanford) Dooley.  After his schooling in Perryville, Arkansas, he joined the Navy in 1943, serving in WWII until 1946.   The naval base is where he met and married LaVonne Martinson on June 7, 1946.  They had six children.

     After his military service in WWII, they moved to Sioux City, Iowa where he worked as a carpenter until he was called back into Navy in August of 1950 during the Korean Conflict.  Lavonne was able to get him discharged in April of 1951.

     Marvin became a Christian and was called into the ministry.  He attended Lutheran Bible Institution in Minneapolis, Minnesota and finished his education at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.  They moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada for seminary training.  During the seminary, he served Langham Lutheran Church as an intern.  His first parish was at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Biggar, Saskatchewan.  In 1966, he was called to serve Samuel Lutheran in Eagle Grove, Iowa and Holmes Lutheran in Holmes, Iowa.  His next move was to Gays Mills, Wisconsin where he served at Redeemer Lutheran Church and Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin.  His last parish was in Radcliffe, Iowa at Our Saviors Lutheran Church.  After retirement, he served as an interim pastor at McCallsburg, Iowa and later as visitation pastor at Jewel, Iowa.  In 2003, they moved to Eagle Grove where he served as an interim pastor at Ullensvang Lutheran Church in Thor, Iowa.

       LaVonne suffered a severe stroke in 2006 and Marvin lovingly cared for her until her passing on February 23, 2017.

       Marvin was a finish carpenter by trade.  He enjoyed camping, fishing, playing the guitar, sharing his faith and time with his family and friends.

       Marvin passed away on Saturday morning, July 20, 2019, at Rotary Senior Living, at the age of 95 years.  He was also preceded in death by his parents and two sons-in-law Philip Nelson and John Allen Morgan. 

      He is survived by his children: Bonnie Nelson of Independence, Iowa, DeDe (Jim) Wagner of West Bend, Wisconsin, Gayle Morgan of Eagle Grove, Iowa, Kathy (Dale) Hinderaker of Radcliffe, Iowa, Tim (Barb) Dooley of Eagle Grove, Iowa and Dan (Mindy) Dooley of Emmetsburg, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; sister, Betty Parnell (Gene) of Hanford, California and several nieces and nephews. 

     Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at Samuel Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove, with Pastors Rich Taylor and Jason Cooper officiating.  Visitation is Monday, from 5 to 7 pm at Foust Funeral Home in Eagle Grove. Burial in Rose Hill Cemetery.

      Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

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