Marlene Anita Eidem was born to Arnold and Ruth (Holck) Quade on March 22, 1938, in Windom, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jeffers and attended Jeffers Public School. She started working at the cafe in Jeffers at the age of 14, where she learned to cook.

On April 3, 1955, she was united in marriage to David Anton Eidem at the Methodist Church in Jeffers. They began their life together on a farm 4 miles east of Jeffers, where they were blessed with 3 children.

Marlene was a devoted member of Jeffers United Methodist Church, and served as music director for 50 years. For many years she served as church treasurer, was on the funeral committee, and taught Sunday school and VBS. Her artistic abilities and talents were used to design church banners which were displayed in the sanctuary. She was on the Jeffers Cemetery Board and was a caretaker for many family members over the years.

She loved cooking and baking, acrylic painting, sewing, playing cards and piano, and she was an avid reader who enjoyed puzzles. Marlene lived for her family. She gave everything she had to make sure they were happy, healthy, and never left hungry! Her heart was happiest when her family was in the kitchen, and she was cooking an amazing meal for all to enjoy, especially her homemade pancakes, eaten faster then she could flip them onto their plates that were first warmed in the microwave, so the hot pancakes didn't sit on cold plates. Another family favorite was her homemade noodles and cheese. She loved the holidays when all the family gathered in their home, having the grandkids stay for a few nights and having the house full! She had a heart of gold.

In recent years her health began to decline, and in 2018, she and David moved to New Perspectives Senior Living in Mankato. After an extremely courageous battle with Parkinson's disease for 17 years, she joined her Heavenly Father on her 85th birthday, March 22, 2023.

Marlene is survived by her husband of nearly 68 years, David; three children, Dale "Butch" (Julie) Eidem, Lisa Vossen, and Joel (Julie) Eidem; seven grandchildren, Justin Vossen, Megan Vossen, Anthony Eidem, Shannon (Chase) Traeger, Nikki (Mike) Schowalter, Nicholas Eidem, and Sydney (Hayden) Corder; three great-grandchildren, Jaden Schowalter, Aubrey Schowalter, and Finn Traeger; two nieces, Sandy Olson and Suzie Olson; two nephews, Steve (Michelle) Olson and Scott Olson; and sister-in-law, Cathy Quade.

She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws; siblings, August "Boomer" Quade, Marvin "Babe" Quade, Marjorie "Midge" Olson; and sister-in-law, Mary Jean Eidem.

Blessed be the memory of Marlene Eidem.

A Celebration of Life Service for Marlene Eidem, of Mankato, formerly of Jeffers, will be held Saturday, June 3rd at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Jeffers, with Pastor Cathy Hoffbeck officiating. Burial will be at the Jeffers City Cemetery in Jeffers.

A time of visitation and gathering will be held one hour prior to the Celebration of Life Service at the United Methodist Church in Jeffers.

After an extremely courageous 17-year battle with Parkinson's disease, Marlene joined her Heavenly Father on her 85th birthday, March 22, 2023.