Missing you very much Marianne. You made such an impact on me. Your absolute warm and generous spirit and your sense of humor - which was just the best. You embraced me into the family with open arms and with such love. It was like seeing an old dear friend when we first met. I will carry your spirit with me all my life. Sending condolences to the whole family and all of her friends.
Love, Paul
PAUL KEELEY
September 8, 2014
Dear Ed and family, What a fun and wonderful lady! My sister, Carolyn and I ran into Marianne at the bank when we were in town visiting our Mom. I recognized her immediately and thank goodness she didn't run when I excitedly (and quite loud) called her name. Fortunately she recognized us also and we started recalling memories of Linden Dr., CRCC and friends we grew up knowing. While we were talking she mentioned the cookies in the bank were the best, so I went back in and brought some out and we sure polished them off in no time. I always think of her when I'm back and head to the bank hoping we can enjoy some more cookies and time together. We weren't able to schedule a time to meet up since we were leaving town the next morning and she was going to visit her cat at the vet's office, I still regret we had time issues. I will cherish our hour long chat and laugh fest with her and enjoy the memories. Now there is another angel in Heaven watching down on all of us.
Gay Neff
Dallas, TX
Gay Neff
May 13, 2014
It's the day of your service, Marianne. You know that after 17 years living across the street from you I would miss you very much. You had a "Midas" touch, but instead of gold, everyone you touched became a friend. You managed to live your life with all the zest you good muster.
For all those who were so very dear to you in life your memory will bring comfort and joy.
Wayne Yohn
May 10, 2014
Sorry to learn of Marianne's death and it was by luck that I saw it. She was enough younger than I that I didn't know her...and she didn't go out to Cheley with us! My next door neighbor, Judy Hershey Melly, is a huge supporter of the camp, still. She went to the "country club" and I went to Trails End. I often wondered where you ended up and what you did. I stay in touch with Caroline Hastings and just reconnected with Sali Wernimont Almond. Mike Evans and Chase Hunter, my brother, do stay connected. We are retired and live in Sarasota, Fl. I almost got to see Howdy Cherry at Wayland Academy in WI, as our children were there at the same time. Howdy's daughter didn't like it but our son, Carr Purser, loved it. If you are on Facebook, I would enjoy seeing your family..I am under Susan Hunter Purser...I still miss CR, especially at Christmas time...
Susan Hunter Purser
May 9, 2014
To Ed and Bastian family, please accept my condolences. Marianne was one-of-a-kind...a gentle, generous soul who radiated love. My thoughts of her are many and the world has lost a special woman. Peace.
Kathy McHugh Bauer
May 8, 2014
Marianne, What a wonderful Lady, her smile and kindness with everyone. She spent time with our girls and they still cherish those times. We will miss you here until we meet again! Sue Byers
Sue Byers
May 8, 2014
Marianne, What a wonderful Lady, her smile and kindness with everyone. She spent time with our girls and they still cherish those times. We will miss you here until we meet again! Sue Byers
Sue Byers
May 8, 2014
Dear Ed and Family,
I will always remember Marianne as "the" nicest most gentle person I will ever know. As a "little kid growing up around Marianne she was our babysitter at times and always ran into to her at the club or in our neighborhood. You and Kenny - the Bastian Family awesome! Last August our daughter was married in CR. Visiting with some guests up here in Spirit Lake after the wedding weekend I was told they were at a café for brunch that Sunday and got to talking to a lady who struck up a conversation. They mentioned the Rowley wedding and her eyes lit up and they visited about CR and our families and said to say "hi" to me. They did and Yes - it was Marianne! I'm sorry I wasn't there. Great memories, wonderful person. I truly believe we lost one of the few angels left on earth. God Bless.
Dave Rowley
May 8, 2014
Marianne had me trim her hedge and spruce up around her house twice each year. She was always so appreciative and complimentary for all I did. She was such a kind and gracious lady. I will miss seeing her.
Dick Hoelz
May 7, 2014
To The Family: I am so sorry to hear that Marianne has passed away. We were classmates at Washington High School. She was always so very pleasant, warm and kind. We would see each other from time to time in Hy-Vee and she would always ask how I was doing and I would return the question. We would then talk at length about whatever. She was an angel.
Carole Bernard
May 7, 2014
Ed and family,
The world is definitely a sadder place without Marianne. She was a lovely person who radiated warmth, kindness and humor. My son Josh adored her and I always felt confident leaving him in her loving care. I feel blessed to have known her and know that she will be greatly missed by everyone fortunate enough to have shared in her life. My heart goes out to you.
Lynn Eicher
May 7, 2014
I first met Marianne at St Luke's way back in the 1970's,,she worked in PT, me in orthopedics, so we had many interactions during that time,,she was so kind and sweet to this newbie!! I ran into her thru the years, as fellow caregivers,, always a smile and a kind word.. I last saw her at Cottage Grove a few years ago, where she was a priceless volunteer.. Such a warm, wonderful lady,,I feel blessed having known her.. Godspeed, Marianne, may the Good Lord cradle your loving heart.. You will be surely missed
Kathee McQuown LPN
May 7, 2014
It is difficult to know how to address this, since we feel Marianne's "family" includes such countless numbers, all of whom we know must be feeling the loss of this wonderful being greatly. To all of you, our sympathies are extended.
I, my husband Jonathan and our son Noah share in the loss, way, way too soon, of this wonderful HUMAN. We lived in Cedar Rapids for seventeen years, just up the road from Greer Fry and her family, and it is hard for us to think of Greer's action-packed house without thinking also of Marianne---and her smile--- which the accompanying beautiful photo captures so perfectly. We will all miss you, Marianne, but you will NOT be forgotten! Lovingly, Joanne Rogoff and family
Joanne Rogoff
May 7, 2014
Ed and family –
We wanted to express our sympathy for your loss. We have been Marianne’s neighbors for 13 years. When we moved onto the block she greeted us with open arms. My kids were 5, 7 and 12 and were the only kids on the block. She took them under her wing and would have them over for what she called “garage sales” when she wanted to clean out her garage. You never knew what the kids would come home with. Even as the kids grew up and moved on she always asked about them and would greet them when they came home.
From calling out her window to us as we were outside shoveling her snow in the freezing cold or pulling up in our driveway in the summer asking to place a drive thru order – you just never knew what she was going to say or do. There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for us and nothing we wouldn’t do for her.
Due to a prior engagement we will be unable to attend Marianne’s funeral but please know that not a day will go by without us looking across the street and thinking about her. Our street was a better place because of her and won’t be the same without her.
Kathy and Larry Schoenfelder
May 7, 2014
Dear Ed and the rest of the Bastian family:
My sympathies go out to all of you. I am not writing a condolence about the sadness we all feel, but about the happiness we feel to have known her. I have known Marianne for all my life and I know she would want us to not to grieve (although that is hard not to do) but to remember all of the fun memories, of which there were too many to count. Marianne had a great personality which made people gravitate to her, even getting her out of a restaurant to go to the car was hard because she knew someone at each table and would stop and "chat". Marianne not only had fun sense of humor but a caring spirit. She always had some fantastic story to tell that you wouldn't believe was true but it was. Many times we would talk on the phone at night and she would say "I gotta hop the twig"...I would reply "What do you mean?" since she always had different sayings. She said "time for bed".
Well "dearie", sweet dreams. You will always be in our hearts!
Louise Pickford
May 6, 2014
Ed - I just wanted you to know that I had a special friendship with Marianne. We both had a neuroma removed from our feet at about the same time several years ago. We always laughed about it because neither one of us had ever heard of one before that. I am so sorry to hear of her death. We lost our dad about a month ago and I have been out of the loop for awhile. I do not even know if it was sudden or over a longer period of time. I will miss her a great deal. She always always had a big smile on her face. Please know I am thinking of you and the rest of your family.
Patty Hull Powers
May 6, 2014
To Marianne's family, I send my sympathy in the passing of Marianne. She was such a loving and caring lady, so much fun to be with. We will miss her laughter and humorus ways. May she rest in peace.
Glenna Malone
May 6, 2014