Obituary of Marlys R. Svare

Marlys R. Svare, age 89 of Iowa City died Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Oaknoll Retirement Residence.

Memorial services will be held at 11am Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City, where visitation will begin at 10am until service time.  Burial will take place at the Ringsaker Cemetery in Pelican Rapids, MN at a later date.  In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in her memory to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church or to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, “Svare Family Intern” fund.  

Marlys Rebecca Ogren was born April 27, 1934, in rural Nelson, Minnesota, the daughter of Arthur and Lydia (Hanson) Ogren.  Following graduation from high school in Alexandria, MN in 1952, she attended and later graduated from Bethesda Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in St. Paul, MN in 1955.  She was united in marriage to Carl Svare on December 23, 1956, while the couple lived in Germany while Carl was serving in the United States Army.

Marlys worked at the University of Iowa, first at Hospital School, then in the Lipid Research Clinic and retiring from the Occupational Health Clinic after becoming a certified Occupational Health Nurse,

She was an active member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church having been involved in much over the years, including the “Glory Girls” and her “Circle Group. Marlys loved to travel, visiting many countries over the years.  While her favorite vacations were always at Hatteras Island, NC with her entire family enjoying the beach. But nothing meant more to her than her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren!

Her family includes her four children and their spouses, Peter and Cathy Svare, Paul and Jill Svare, Thomas and Becki Svare and Elizabeth “Betsy” and Bradley Martens; nine grandchildren, Matthew Svare (Katlyn), Zachary Svare (Sarah), Joseph Svare (Morgan), Nicholas Svare (Danielle), Gina Cherry (Cole), Samantha Svare, Jacob Svare, Kathryn Caplener (Jake) and Rachel Martens; six great-grandchildren; brother, Richard “Dick” Ogren; and sister-in-law, Barbara Ogren.

Marlys was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Dr. Carl Svare; brother and his wife, Donald and Shirely Ogren and brother, Roger Ogren.