Marilyn V. Dahlof

Marilyn Virginia (Schrader) Dahlof was born to Otto and Golda (Gipple) Schrader on the family farm near Bridgewater on Feb. 2, 1932. She joined two brothers, John and Dallas. Another brother, Edward, followed four years later.

Attending Carl #2 Country School and helping with chores - milking cows, feeding the chickens and rabbits, gardening and making hay - kept her busy. Marilyn’s lifelong love of reading began in second grade, when she won an award for reading the most books of any student in the county. After graduating from Bridgewater High School, she attended Creston Junior College and began a teaching career - what Marilyn considered her calling - in schools throughout Southwest Iowa. Her impact was evident in the gifts and letters students continued to send her into her 90s.

While teaching in Harlan, she met “one of the Kirkman boys,” Donald Dahlof, through mutual friends. Marilyn and Donald’s 62-year-long marriage began June 12, 1959. The couple lived east of Kirkman where they raised their three children. Her days were filled with the work of a farm wife, mother and substitute teacher. Serving as a 4-H club leader was one of the many ways Marilyn supported her kids’ activities.

She was a member of the Redline Church of Christ and took pride in planning the Memorial Day program at the Redline Cemetery. After moving to Harlan in 2021, she attended the Harlan Church of Christ. During the 1980s, she was as a volunteer World Bible School correspondence course instructor with students in Ghana, who she came to call friends.

Through the years, Marilyn shared her gift for words by writing poetry and songs, helping friends and relatives celebrate milestone events. Marilyn and Donald enjoyed traveling with the Commander’s Club, and she often provided a travelogue to help fellow Commanders recall trips together.

Later in life, Marilyn returned to her love of the classroom as a teacher’s assistant at West Ridge Elementary. Marilyn was an active community volunteer, including at the Baptist Memorial Home (now Elm Crest), where she continued to provide volunteer help even after she became a resident of assisted living.

When she wasn’t reading a book, solving word puzzles or keeping up with friends and family by phone or email, Marilyn tuned in for Iowa State Cyclones football and basketball games and Chicago Cubs games. Her grandkids fondly remember the holiday tradition of “grandma’s grab bag,” where they never knew what surprises were in store.

Marilyn died Jan. 4, 2026, surrounded by her children, at the age of 93.

Those left to remember Marilyn are her children: Tamara (Kevin) Wishard of Austin, Texas; Todd Dahlof of Overland Park, Kansas, and Trudy (Paul) Gormley of Marion and grandchildren: Lauren Wishard of Woodville, Texas, Alexa Gormley (fiancé Jared) of Marion and Jaclyn Wishard of Austin.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald; her parents; three brothers and grandson Grant Wishard.

A 10:30 a.m. Funeral Service was officiated by Rev. Roy North on Thursday, Jan. 8, at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan. Aaron Carlson, Craig Daringer, Mike Davis, Dallas Klindt, Steve Obrecht and Kevin Rutherford served as pallbearers. Sally Claussen, Larry Lair, David Schrader, Ralph Dent, Deloris Dent, Doug Schrader, Mike England and Jeff Schrader served as honorary pallbearers. A burial was held in Redline Cemetery in Redline following the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Harlan Public Library or Relay for Life.

Pauley Jones Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.