Marvin Marius Jorgensen

Marvin Marius Jorgensen, the son of Marius and Anna (Nielsen) Jorgensen, was born February 25, 1928 at his parents’ home in Shelby County near Kimballton, Iowa and died February 7, 2021 at the Taylor House in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 92 years, 11 months, and 12 days.

Marvin was baptized and confirmed at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton. He attended Shelby County rural schools then graduated from the Elk Horn High School with the Class of 1946.

In 1947, Marvin was united in marriage to Darlene Pauley in Harlan, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Michael, Mark, and Roxann. They purchased a farm west of Exira, where they grew row crops and raised livestock. Over time, Marvin purchased and operated numerous farms. He was always concerned with soil conservation, and with each farm he purchased, he visualized the terraces and ponds which needed to be built to improve the production of the land and maintain its soil base. In 1955, Marvin purchased the hog buying station in Brayton, Iowa, and in the 1960s, Marvin purchased the Sale Barn in Kimballton, Iowa. He developed Jorgensen Brokerage in Kimballton and had seats on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the New Orleans Cotton and Rice Exchange, and the Chicago Board of Trade, as well as memberships on the Monetary Exchange and Mid American for mini contracts. Marvin was also a board member of Heinold Commodities Prestige Club for top brokers.

In 1974, he married Doris Sorensen. Marvin continued to operate his many farms and later sold the hog buying station and the Kimballton Sale Barn. He also moved Jorgensen Brokerage from Kimballton to Audubon.

Marvin had been a member of the Exira Lutheran Church. He was a visionary and many times could see what needed to be done in the local communities and gave freely and many times anonymously to help improve them. He helped the Exira Lutheran Church provide a home for the pastors to live, he was instrumental in providing medical services in the county from the Mayo Clinic, and he gave generously to help to bring to reality the new structure for the Exira Care Center and many other meaningful gestures of kindness.

Marvin was preceded in death by his wives, Darlene Jorgensen and Doris Jorgensen; his grandchildren, Holly Jorgensen and Brian Jorgensen; his parents, Marius and Anna Jorgensen; his brother, Bervin Jorgensen; his sisters, Carol and husband Dale Miller and Ardis Wolf; and his brother-in-law, Al Rubel.

Survivors include his children: Michael and wife Rhonda Jorgensen of Prescott, Iowa; Mark and wife Zeeta Jorgensen of Exira, Iowa; and Roxann and husband Rick Wheatley of Adair, Iowa; his 12 grandchildren: Marty and wife Jennifer Jorgensen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Matthew and wife Darcie Jorgensen of Exira, Iowa; Audra and husband Chad Johnston of Maywood, Nebraska; Heather Peterson and Jerome Sexton of Ogallala, Nebraska; Shane Jorgensen and Caitlin Sprague of Brayton, Iowa; Jessica and husband Aaron Savage of Waukee, Iowa; Ann and husband Charles Slayton of Adair, Iowa; Jennifer and husband Ryan Bergmann of Sheffield, Iowa; Charity and husband Kory Chestnut of Earlham, Iowa; Brandy and husband Spenser Jorgensen of Adair, Iowa; Austin Wheatley of Phoenix, Arizona; and Dallas Wheatley of Adair, Iowa; his 26 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren; his sister, Shirley Rubel of Atlantic, Iowa; and his brother-in-law, Phillip and wife Jane Wolf of Marionville, Missouri; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

There will be open viewing from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, with some of the family being present from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock and Pastor Nancy Jensen at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira. Honorary casket bearers will be Ryan Bergmann, Spenser Jorgensen, Austin Wheatley, Kim Petersen, Angie Weaver, and Kory Chesnut. The casket bearers will be Dallas Wheatley, Marty Jorgensen, Matthew Jorgensen, Shane Jorgensen, Aaron Savage, and Charles Slayton.