Marjorie Hitesman

Friday, January 18, 2019 4:02 pm

Marjorie Hitesman, 94, of Calmar, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, at Wellington Place in Decorah. Services are at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, at Calmar Lutheran Church, with Pastor Anita Nuetzman officiating. Organist is Martha Ludeking. Soloist is Cindy Schissel (“On Eagles’ Wings” and “The Lord’s Prayer”). Hymns are “How Great Thou Art” and “Be Thou My Vision.” Honorary casket bearers are all of Marjorie’s great-grandchildren. Casket bearers are all of Marjorie’s grandchildren: John Juve, Mike Juve, Lars Juve, Jo Ann Berns, Ryan Henningsgaard, Nicole Brodbeck and Heather Norsworthy. Interment is in Calmar Lutheran Cemetery, Calmar. Arrangements are being handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, Calmar.

Marjorie Alberta (Dolton) Hitesman was born Oct. 2, 1924, the daughter of Sidney and Blanche Alberta (Gale) Dolton in Plymouth, England. Marjorie grew up in the village of Hooe and graduated from Plymstock High School in 1938, at the age of 14. She then began work delivering food to the wounded soldiers on the trains. When she was 16 she worked at a gas station and drove a truck for an aircraft company during World War II. During the War, she met Robert Hitesman at a canteen dance. They were married Aug. 31, 1945, at St. John’s Church of England in Plymouth, England. After the war, they moved to Edgewood, where she worked in her mother-in-law’s restaurant. They moved to Calmar and Marjorie stayed at home for a short time to raise her children. In the 1950s, Marjorie worked at Bucheit Produce candling eggs. When Bob became sheriff and they moved to Decorah, she did all the cooking for the inmates in jail. Marjorie went to work for Luther College in 1961, first as a telephone operator and then in the recreation room. After working for Luther for 42 years, she retired in 2003 at the age of 79. Over the years, Marjorie served as a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, taught Sunday school, was a member of New Comers Club, the American Auxillary and the Calmar Lutheran Church. Favorite pastimes she and Bob enjoyed were spending time on the Mississippi and boating on their boat the “Daisy Mae.” Marjorie and Bob went to Hawaii in 1966 on a trip Bob won through Life Investors Insurance. Marjorie was able to return to England several times with her children and grandchildren. She first returned with her son Bill in 1976; daughters Sheryl and Lynne in 1986; Sheryl and grandson John in 1999; and granddaughter Jo in 2001. In later years, she loved watching and feeding the birds, knitting, reading, visiting with family and friends and having coffee at the Train Station most mornings. Marjorie especially enjoyed her children, grandchildren and her great grandchildren.

Marjorie’s survivors include her daughter, Sheryl (Ron) Juve, Decorah; one son, Bill (Jody) Hitesman, Hastings, Neb.; one son-in-law, Roger Henningsgaard, Decorah; seven grandchildren: John (Dina) Juve, Mike (Sara) Juve and Lars (Anna Lee) Juve; Jo Ann (Tom) Berns and Ryan Henningsgaard; Nicole (Denne) Brodbeck and Heather (Joe) Norsworthy; four step-grandchildren: Kayla (Bradley) Priest, Whitney (Derek) VanVeldhuizen, Morgan Krueger and Tori Krueger; 24 great/step-great grandchildren; one nephew, Tom (Nancy) Gladfelter, St. George, Utah; one great-niece, Cheryl Gladfelter; and one great-nephew, Michael Gladfelter.

arjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Sidney and Blanche Alberta (Gale) Dolton; her husband, Robert Hitesman, Aug. 14, 2005; her daughter, Lynne Henningsgaard, Jan. 4, 2013; one sister-in-law, Wilda (William) Gladfelter.