A Celebration of Life Service for Marlys Symens, age 90, of Windom and formerly of Heron Lake, will be held Saturday, September 13th at 10:30 AM at the Windom Methodist Church in Windom. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Windom.

A visitation for Marlys will be held on Friday evening, September 12th from 4 to 7 PM at the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Windom. Visitation will continue on Saturday at the Windom Methodist Church for one hour prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 AM.

Marlys Iola Symens was born April 13, 1935, the third of thirteen children born to Cornelius and Mona (Van Diepen) Van Meeteren at Boyden, Iowa. She graduated from Boyden High School in 1953, and upon graduation worked at various jobs, including nurse's aide (on a private farm and at Pine Rest Nursing Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan) as an egg candler.

Marlys met Burdell Symens on June 27, 1954, at the Sheldon Swimming Pool. She and her sister Francie were sitting on the edge of the pool dangling their feet when a handsome guy came over. He asked Francie if he could have a date with her and luckily, for Marlys, Francie held up her hand with a wedding ring on it but said "My sister is available". That was the beginning of a romance that resulted in a wedding two years later, on June 29, 1956.

After Burdell's 2-years+ Army stint (with Marlys and baby Gale staying with her in-laws), they moved to Minneapolis for Burdell's accounting job and then moved to the farm at Heron Lake in 1965. Marlys excelled in her position of stay-at-home "Self-Employed Domestic Engineer", wife and mother, taking care of the children and the house, planting a huge garden which she canned each season and helping outside when needed. Marlys and Burdell celebrated 68 family-filled years before Burdell's death on September 8, 2024.

Marlys was known as a wonderful cook and baker. She spoiled her family with favorites like goulash, chocolate chip cookies and caramel bars. She packed the best cooler-full of meals and treats for the guys during spring planting and harvest and everyone looked forward to holiday gatherings at Grandma's - especially Christmas with her famous egg bake and caramel roll brunch. Her Christmas dice game prizes were always the best! Marlys loved a good garage sale or auction, she could spend hours reading, keeping up with family on her iPad, and putting puzzles together. She taught her children and grandchildren how to bake pies and the art of canning, passing down traditions with patience and love. Her hugs were unmatched, wrapping you in comfort, and her kitchen was truly the heart of her home as cooking was her love language for her entire family. She was so proud of her four children Gale, Greg, Char and Kimm, and of her 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

When Marlys was young, a kind, older neighbor took her to church and Sunday School, beginning her journey of walking with the Lord. She was a member of the Heron Lake Methodist Church for over 60 years and was involved with teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was a member of United Methodist Women and a member of the Birthday Club since 1965, meeting monthly with Heron Lake neighborhood ladies.

Marlys Symens passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 3rd at the Good Samaritan Society-Sogge Memorial in Windom.

Marlys is survived by her children, Gale (Patty) of Heron Lake, Greg (Lorinda) of Sioux Falls, Char (Jack) Carlson of Morgan and Kimm of Windom; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Katie (Colin) Bennett with Emmalyn, Miciah, and Kamryn; Philip; Jamie (Chris) Opdahl with Oliver; Ashley (Matt Sr.) Meadows with Matthew Jr.; Brian (Nicole) Symens with Aiden and Jaxson;  Shane; Adam (Kirstin) Carlson with Titus, Elijah, and Judah; Ryan (Hannah) Carlson with Emory; Jason (Shelby) Carlson with Lincoln, Callum, and Norah; and Gabriella Symens-Otero; siblings, Monte (Marlene) Van Meeteren, Pete (Joyce) Van Meeteren, Ruth Kroon, Mark (Keiko) Van Meeteren, and Dan (Lindy) Van Meeteren; sisters-in-law, Alice, Linda, Joyce, and Jeanne Van Meeteren; and in-laws, Elaine (Richard) Rypkema, Maxine, Sharon, Fern and Pam Symens, and Mary Meister.

Marlys was preceded in death by her husband, Burdell Symens; parents, Cornelius and Mona Van Meeteren; brothers Roger, Ron, Arnie, Cory, Mike and Terry Van Meeteren; and sister Francie Koster; and brothers-in-law, Ervin, Marlyn, Dale, Delbert and Arthur (Gladys) Symens.