Memorial
Marian Elizabeth (Krumrey) Zierath passed away peacefully at the Lyngblomsten Care Center in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 30. She was born on August 5, 1933, to William E. Krumrey and Edith (Mueller) Krumrey in Waterloo, Iowa. She first saw Donald Zierath in 9th grade and thought he was the one. They finally started dating their junior year and graduated together from West Waterloo High. While Don went to Iowa State on a ROTC scholarship right after high school, Marian worked in Waterloo for two years to save money to go to college.
She finished one year of college at Iowa State before getting married. Don’s enlistment took them to several locations. Two of their boys were born during these moves. The last two sons were born after they settled in Ames, Iowa. Marian spent several years raising her family. When the youngest was established in school, she went to work for two years as a secretary at Farm Journal.
The family moved to Springfield, Illinois, where she began a career in hospital public relations in Springfield and later in Jacksonville, Illinois, after moving there. The empty nesters moved to New York City for 10 months. They returned to the Midwest in the suburbs of Chicago where Marian worked in Elgin, Illinois.
Marian was limited in her career without a college degree. So, Don encouraged her to return to college, and she went to Mundelein (IL) College part-time. When they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she attended college full-time and graduated from Mount Mercy College.
While attending classes, she took a basketweaving class. Marian’s artistic skills were created in a variety of media during her life. She found joy in making baskets and participated in several juried art festivals. She taught basketweaving to many people throughout Iowa, Minnesota, and Aruba.
Marian was an active member at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids and volunteered with Quota of Cedar Rapids. She survived breast and colon cancer. When cancer returned, it was controlled for several years.
Marian lost her husband of 66 years in 2019. Her son, William, died two years later. She moved to St. Paul, Minnesota at the beginning of 2022 since many of her family members had moved north. She missed her dear friends in Iowa. People at Lyngblomsten loved her sweetness and found her easy to befriend.
Marian is survived by her sons and their wives - David (Pamela) Larabee-Zierath, Mark (Therese Misgen) Zierath, and Paul (Christine) McCune-Zierath; grandchildren - Jennifer (Joey) Zierath-Lowe, Daniel Zierath, Sharon Zierath, Douglas McCune-Zierath, and Joseph McCune-Zierath; great-grandchildren – Alexander Haglund, Frederick Schrader, and Henrik Schrader; seven nieces and nephews: and many, many baskets. She was preceded in death by husband, Donald Zierath; son, William Zierath; parents; and brothers and sisters-in-law, George (Phyllis) and Max (Barbara).
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11 at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids by Pastor Tim Smith. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.