Marlene Melcher, 87, of Fairfield, passed away Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Prestige Care Center in Fairfield.
Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield, with Pastor John Wilbur officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Fell Cemetery in Libertyville. Memorials may be made to Fell Cemetery or Libertyville First Responders and left in care of the family at 2525 Hawthorne Ave., Fairfield, Iowa 52556.
Marlene was born May 24, 1938, in Des Moines, the daughter of Clayton and Martha (Olmsted) Morgan. She married Dale Melcher on November 2, 1956, in Libertyville, and they were blessed to recently celebrate 69 years of marriage together.
Over the years, Marlene owned and operated a beauty shop, sold life insurance for Prudential Life Insurance, and was a dedicated, hard-working farm wife. She loved anything pretty – flowers, clothes, jewelry – and she took joy in keeping herself polished, always wearing her hair styled and her nails looking lovely. Just as much, she delighted in noticing beauty in others, never missing a chance to tell you when she liked what you were wearing or when something caught her eye.
One of her greatest joys was hosting sleepovers for her grandchildren. Her refrigerator and cabinets were always stocked with snacks and treats just for them. She had a gift for making people feel welcome, including her children’s friends, and later those who joined the family, always leaving you with the feeling that you belonged.
Marlene and Dale enjoyed many family trips to the Lake of the Ozarks, beginning when their children were young. They made lifelong friends there, often hosting gatherings and building memories with people from near and far. As their children grew, the trips expanded to include friends during the high-school years, and the tradition carried on with the grandchildren as they grew. Marlene had her own special seat on the boat, where she’d work on her tan, keep a loving eye on the younger grandchildren, and cheer on whoever was water-skiing at the moment. The couple also enjoyed camping in their camper and RV and spent several winters in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Dale; her children and their spouses, Allen and Darla Melcher of Fairfield, Shelley Oren of Altoona, Marilee and Brian Caves of Douds, and Renee and Phillip Laux of Richland; her grandchildren and their spouses, Amber and Mark Thornton, Dana and Mitch Anderson, Abby and Thomas Hasley, Tasha Greene and Brody Norton, Joshua Oren, Jacob Oren, Morgan and Bryce VonAhsen, Brock and Paige Caves, Phillip Laux III, and Mackenzie and Trevor Taghon; and her great-grandchildren, Luke, Lauren, Castle, Gabriella, Emerson, Max, Grady, Ty, Levi, Gentry, Weston, Emberly, and Brexley. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Madelyn and Alex Tarkanov of Fayetteville, Arkansas; her lifetime friend, Donna Neil; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother and sister-in-law, Millard and Sharon Morgan; her brother-in-law, Jerry Kennedy; and her son-in-law, Glenn Oren.
Online condolences may be made to Marlene’s family by viewing her obituary at www.behnerfh.com.