Marcia Cerven

Mary Marcia Cerven (the daughter of Henry and Gladys Bycroft) was born February 21, 1931, in Taylor County at her home in Holt Township No 3 - also the home of her father Henry Bycroft. She attended a one-room school 2 miles south of her home for many years. Many stories were told of the riding adventures with her brother - Ronald and Major (her horse) to school. She moved to Corning schools in town in 1945 and lived with her grandparents. School buses were limited and walking from the bus stop across 2 miles of fields was the only way to get home.

She attended Grinnell College after high school and received her Elementary Education Degree in 1953 and then taught 3^rd grade in Cedar Rapids Kenmore Elementary for one year. On Sept. 12, 1954, she married Orville Dale Cerven of Gravity, IA. She taught in New Market schools for two years before they moved to Adams County Lincoln Township where they farmed for 50+ years before Dale’s 2004 retirement. Marcia loved farm living and wide-open spaces and always stated she would not want to be cooped up in town! She loved the farm hilltop and morning sunrises and refused to move to town after Dale passed.  She found great appreciation for Lowell Evans and John Shuler who managed and included her in the farming operations. Her daily trips to town to gather at the CHI Health Wellness Fitness Center was her joy and gathering with friends. These frequent trips always led to a yearly deer slayer story witnessed by Frank’s Body Shop!! She loved her hometown and continued to cherish the SW Iowa friendships after her move to Iowa City to be closer to her daughter Diane.

Marcia was known to take off on short notice to drive all over southwest Iowa with her posse of friends to find a breakfast or a lunch place that needed checking out. Her motor pool friends found many places of interest to check along the way.  Her Lincoln Township monthly card club, Strand birthday group, and CARPSA also were great enjoyment.

Marcia was continually active in the church life at a young age from Fairview Congregational Church south of Corning (no longer present) to Oak Hill church (after marriage) to Lincoln Center (Adams County Lincoln Township) to her Redeemer Lutheran church family in Corning. She became a pianist at Oak Hill and continued this piano and organ work which included many years playing at Strand Lutheran Church (Villisca, IA country church). She and her brother were taught piano & organ very young and played pieces together frequently. Marcia “loved” her Redeemer Lutheran church family and was very active in LWML until her Iowa City move. Marcia was all about family and friends and her faith!  Psalm 23 was her “go to” verse in life.

Four children were born to Marcia and Dale: Ed, Vicki, Judith and Diane. In 1976 Dale and Marcia hosted a Finland exchange student and they loved sharing those memories. For a couple of years, they also hosted 2 foster girls who needed a temporary home. Marcia taught in the Corning Schools from 1985 to 2003 very often as a substitute teacher and then full time teaching first grade. She loved her almost 20 years of teaching and “her kids” and beamed when those kids grew up and made a point to call to her on the street later in their lives!

During the 1980’s she worked at Precision Pulley south of Corning while at the same time substituting teaching school and farming with Dale. Her work ethic was unparalleled! Sports were an important part of her life also and she loved to watch her grandchildren play volleyball, baseball, and basketball. Baseball was her game to watch – especially traveling to Iowa City to see her grandson Ryan play frequently.

In August 2019, she moved to Iowa City to be closer to her daughter, Diane. The friends she made at Grand Living at Bridgewater in Coralville helped her transition to a “non-farm” life. She was a very sociable person and even won the title of Mardi Gras Queen by attending the most exercise classes!! Her smile pervaded Bridgewater halls and activity rooms on a frequent basis. She loved her early morning breakfast circle, coffee club, journaling, and bell choir groups as well.

Left to cherish many memories of Marcia are:  Ed (Tresa) Cerven of Girard, IL; Vicki (Chuck) Cerven-Astell of Troy, MI; Judy Cerven of Cedar Hill, TX; Diane (Tom) Cerven-Jenn of Iowa City, IA. Grandchildren: Juleen (Kyle) Brumbaugh of Liberty, MO; Cassie (Kellen) Yoder of Tiffin, IA; Ryan Jenn of Tiffin, IA; Rochelle Cerven (Cedar Hill, TX); Jennifer (Cerven) Davis of St. Joseph, MO, and many great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her beloved husband Orville Dale Cerven, brother Ronald Eugene Bycroft, her parents Henry & Gladys Bycroft, in-laws - Betty & Dean Cerven, in-laws - Evelyn & Duane Cerven, close friends Boyd & Wilma Schafer, and very special friend Wilma Anderson.