Marilyn McAllister

Marilyn Rose McAllister was born on December 14, 1930 to Otto and Signe (Erickson) Schuler in Omaha, Nebraska. She was raised on a farm south of Decatur, Nebraska. Marilyn attended Tekamah High School and graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1948. She received her elementary teaching certificate from Midland Lutheran College. Marilyn then taught in a one room country school west of Decatur. She was responsible for studies and cleaning, as well as playing baseball with the students at recess. She later taught in the Tekamah and in Onawa schools. She married Jerry Ronald McAllister on July 20, 1956. The couple lived in Walthill, Nebraska and Prairie City, Iowa. During this time they had three children, Elisabeth, Mark, and John. They moved to Dunlap, Iowa in 1965. After Jerry’s death in 1969, she began teaching remedial math for grades 4-6 in the Dunlap Community School system. Education was very important to Marilyn. She received her bachelor’s degree and graduated from Dana College in 1977. She encouraged both her own children and grandchildren to achieve their own educational goals. She retired in 1993 after 23 years of dedicated teaching.

Marilyn was a member of the Dunlap St. John Lutheran Church. She served on the church council and also was treasurer of the W.E.L.C.A. Her church family was very special to her. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Harrison County Retired Teachers, Dunlap Historical Society, and Entre Nous club. Marilyn enjoyed sewing, crocheting, crafts, traveling, and attending plays at the Omaha Community Playhouse. She was a loyal member of the Democratic Party and an avid Nebraska Cornhusker football fan. She especially loved spending time with and cooking for her family and her beloved grandchildren.

Marilyn died after a courageous battle with cancer on Friday, June 3, 2011 at the Dunlap Nursing and Rehab Center at the age of 80 years, five months, and 20 days.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Jerry. She is survived by her daughter, Elisabeth and Kevin Petersen of Dunlap, Iowa; two sons, Mark and Theresa McAllister of Dunlap, Iowa, and John and Peggy McAllister of Oyens, Iowa; four grandchildren, Jake, Cole, Cassie, and Katie, and many other relatives and friends.