Marilyn Maxwell

Marilyn Maxwell, age 87, died October 13, 2021 from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Marilyn Lou (Stephenson) Maxwell was born in Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa on September 6, 1934 to Wayne Alton and Nellie Maude (McGinnis) Stephenson. She was the youngest of three children. Later they moved to Madrid, Iowa where she met Jerry Albert Maxwell. They were married on December 14, 1952, at the Methodist Church in Madrid. In Madrid, Marilyn helped her parents at Steve’s Café, the restaurant her parents owned. She also worked at other local businesses. When her children were little, she worked the night shift at Bournes in Ames, Iowa. Later in her life she worked at 3-M in Ames. During the 70’s and 80’s, Marilyn and Jerry rode to almost every state on a motorcycle pulling a small trailer that held their camping gear. During this time, they found Payson, Arizona and later moved there to retire. In 2010, Jerry died and Marilyn noticed she was becoming forgetful. In 2013, she moved back to Iowa to live with daughter Vicki in Ankeny. Marilyn is survived by her children, Mike (Cindy) Maxwell of Madrid, Iowa, Linda Faaborg of Tucson, Arizona, and Vicki (Greg) Kooker of Ankeny, Iowa; grandchildren Jason (Brenda) Maxwell of Des Moines, Iowa, Adam (Mickey Rolfe) Maxwell of Woodward, Iowa, David (Jill) Faaborg of Phoenix, Arizona, Jessica Faaborg of Tucson, Arizona, Jon (Emma Vincent) Johnsen of Nevada, Iowa, and Dan (Chelsea) Johnsen of Madrid, Iowa. She and Jerry also have great-grandchildren: Amanda Faaborg, Kaitlin Faaborg and Maxwell Faaborg, all of Arizona. Otto and Olive Johnsen and Ada Johnsen, all of Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her infant daughter Cindy Lou Maxwell, her half-brothers James Stephenson and William Stephenson. A celebration of life for both Marilyn and Jerry will be held at Sundberg Kirkpatrick Funeral Home in Madrid, Iowa from 2-3 p.m. on Monday, October 25, 2021 followed by a 3:00 p.m. service. Friends and family are invited to come and share stories and memories of Marilyn and Jerry. Interment of her cremains will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Madrid, immediately following the service.