Marcia Ostlund

Marcia Ann Ostlund, the daughter of Albert F. and Martha (Peterman) Niebuhr, was born January 14, 1947, in Webster City, Iowa, and left this life on March 31, 2017, at her home in Jefferson, Iowa. She lived her life to the age of 70 years, 2 months and 17 days. Funeral services were held Friday, April 7 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson.
Marcia grew up in Webster City and attended Webster City High School. In her junior year, she moved to Perry and graduated in 1965. She attended Webster City Junior College and received an associate’s degree and later attended the University of Iowa.

On April 14, 1968, Marcia Niebuhr was united in marriage to William Ostlund at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Webster City. They lived in Iowa City until Bill’s graduation. They then moved to Laramie, Wyoming, for three years, where Bill attended law school. Upon completion of his schooling, they lived one year in Anamosa, Iowa, where Bill clerked for Justice Rees. During that year, their son, Andy was born on January 26, 1973. Marcia and Bill came to Jefferson in July of that year. Their daughter Sarah was born on March 13, 1974. From the time of their marriage, Marcia worked several jobs to help with the financial needs during Bill’s schooling. After coming to Jefferson, Marcia started working for the Jefferson REC-Midland Power Co. and retired after 39 years on her 65th birthday in 2012.

Marcia was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson and an active member in the church choir. Marcia was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan and was a member of the University of Iowa I-Club Foundation and the Greene Co. I-Club. She was also a member of the Greene County Golf Club and of the Beta Tau Delta Sorority. Marcia served on the Jefferson School Board for 13 years and served as a member of the Iowa Development Board.

Marcia was first diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 1999 and received treatments into 2000 until declared to be in remission. She did very well for several years. In 2010, she was diagnosed with a high-grade uterine cancer and completed treatment in March of 2011. Throughout her treatments, she continued to work until her retirement. She ALWAYS had a positive attitude! Her team, “Team MOjo” (MO for Marcia Ostlund), was along her side throughout as she “Kicked her ICK.” In 2012, her uterine cancer metastasized to her lungs causing her treatments to resume. In the early part of summer in 2016, her doctor discontinued her treatments. Marcia reminded us often that she was “LIVING with cancer” not “dying of cancer.” She remained at home with the help of her family, especially her daughter Sarah and friend Josh and other caregivers.

Marcia is survived by her husband of 48 years, William (Bill); son, Andy and his wife, Ann and their son, George, of Prairie Village, Kan.; daughter, Sarah and three “granddogs” of Webster City; and her beloved pup, Belle; brothers: Will (DeLaine) Niebuhr of Fort Wayne, Ind., Bob (Sherry) Niebuhr of Savannah, Mo., Don Niebuhr of Prescott, Ariz. and Butch (Denise) Niebuhr of Perry; sisters; Marilyn (Darold) Albright of Iowa City and Marlyce Hollis of Ocala, Fla.; sisters-in-laws, Mindy (Billy) Harkins of Lakewood, Colo. and Janis (Tim) Graber of Costa Mesa, Calif.; and brother-in-law, John (Beth) Ostlund of Centreville, Va.; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Those who preceded her in death were her parents; father and mother-in-law, John and Beverly (Juhl) Ostlund; a favorite grandma, Esther Juhl; a sister, Martha Jean Niebuhr; brother-in-law, Bill Hollis; sisters-in-law, Nancy Niebuhr and Beth Niebuhr; and a niece, Denise Albright.

Brown Funeral Home of Jefferson.