Marilyn Hennick

Marilyn Hennick, the daughter of Ellsworth and Margaret (Johnson) Hays, was born on February 1, 1948 in Carroll, Iowa and died June 22, 2022 surrounded by her family at her daughter’s home in Exira, Iowa at the age of 74 years, 4 months, and 21 days.

Marilyn was baptized and confirmed at the Bowman Chapel United Methodist Church in rural Guthrie County, Iowa. She attended rural Audubon County Schools then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1966. Marilyn then studied at a business college in Des Moines, Iowa.

On May 25, 1968, she was united in marriage to Robert Hennick at the Bowman Chapel United Methodist Church in rural Guthrie County. They were blessed with two daughters Teresa and Elizabeth. Robert was still in the Navy and was stationed in Puerto Rico where they lived until he was transferred to South Carolina. Robert was honorably discharged and they moved to Exira. Marilyn was a stay at home mother while the girls were young and when they reached school age she was employed as a waitress at several area restaurants for several years. Later she was employed as a cashier at the Exira Foodtown Grocery Store until it closed. In 1994 she moved to Atlantic, Iowa and was employed as a book-keeper for her fiancé’s, Don Cook, business, Cook Sanitation where she worked until she retired. Marilyn returned to Exira in 2010 to be closer to her family.

Marilyn was a member of the Exira Christian Church in Exira and was an active member of the Exira American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed crocheting and made many of the girls doll clothes and was also an avid reader. She liked all types of sports but her passion was being with her family especially her grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents; Ellsworth and Margaret Hays; her brother Andrew Hays; and her brother-in law Robert VandeBrake.

Survivors include her daughters Terri and husband Rodney Harris and Betsy and husband Kyle Kitelinger all of Exira, Iowa; her 9 grandchildren: Joseph Harris and his friend Alexis Oakley both of Waukee, Iowa, Samantha Harris of Del City, Oklahoma, Taylor, Fred, Josh, and Robert Harris all of Exira, Iowa, Carter and wife Paige Kitelinger of Ames, Iowa, Hudson Kitelinger of Churdan, Iowa and fiancée Sarah Marshall of Exira, and Sophie Kitelinger of Exira; her sisters Dee VandeBrake of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pauline Harrison of Iowa City, Iowa, Kathy and husband Mick Frease of Palm Harbor, Florida, Lisa and husband Marty Novotny of Iowa City, Iowa and her brother Jon and wife Cassy Hays of Hamlin, Iowa; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

The family will meet with friends on Sunday afternoon, June 26, 2022, from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Glen Meyers on Monday morning, June 27, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at the Exira Christian Church. Interment will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Bowman Chapel in rural Guthrie County, Iowa. The casket bearers will be her grandchildren Joe Harris, Samantha Harris, Taylor Harris, Fred Harris, Carter Kitelinger, Hudson Kitelinger, and Sophie Kitelinger.