Marlene Ruth Meissner

Marlene Ruth Imhoff was born March 5, 1958, to Roscoe and Milda Imhoff in Leon, Iowa. In school, she was active in choir and learned to play both guitar and the piano. She left this life on August 31, 2020, at the age of 62 years, five months, and 25 days—just a few hours less than a year from her father’s death. She attended York College, in York, Nebraska, where she studied secretarial science, though the degree she put to the best use was her MRS.

She married Larry Meissner on August 4, 1979, in Osceola, Iowa. At the time, Larry was still a student at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.

Marlene grew up in the church of Christ and remained a part of that fellowship all her life. She and Larry shared in ministry for over 41 years. She loved to sing songs of praise to God and encouragement to fellow Christians. While in high school she attended MidWest Bible camp in Iowa where she met people who are still dear friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. After she and Larry went to Arkansas, Larry was brought into that circle of friends. Together they forged strong relationships that transcend time and distance even today – to the point that these were, after direct family members, the first calls Larry made after Marlene’s death - calls to Virginia and Missouri. And it was as if the years and miles not just dissolved, but never existed.

While in Iowa, Marlene worked on an assembly line at Furnas Electric.

When she and Larry were working in ministry in Jamesport, Missouri, she worked as a camp counselor for a few years and coordinated and operated the camp snack bar one year. She also did some house cleaning for friends and neighbors in town. There, in just four-and-half years, they also developed relationships that are far stronger than years and distance.

After she and Larry moved to California in 1986 to begin ministry in Banning, Marlene worked for Pat Wilson in her store, “Something Special,” a gift and candy store. From December 1991 to September 2007, she worked at “Beaumont Stationers,” a printing and stationery store. Wherever she went she made friends. Now, thirteen years later, she will still meet people in a store who recognized her from her work in retail.

Her greatest joy was her daughter and granddaughter. Janelle and Jocelynn brought smiles to her face and joy to her heart. The pain she endured for most of the last 22 years and breathing difficulties in recent years greatly hampered what she was able to do with them, to teach them things and do things with them, but nothing hampered her love for them and her joy at just being in their presence.

She enjoyed participating in Bible studies and prayer groups.

Both of her parents, Roscoe and Milda (Boswell) Imhoff, and Larry’s mother, Denzel Meissner, preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband Larry; her daughter and son-in-law, Janelle and Josh Morrow; one granddaughter, Jocelynn Morrow; her older sister, Rolene Bryan and husband Randall; her younger sister, Marcia Grimm and husband Brett; her younger brother, Royce Imhoff; her father- and mother-in-law, Wayne and Nettie Meissner; her sister- and brother in law, Lena and Philip Rayburn; six nieces, Tana, Tori, Rhea, Brittany, Cassidy, and Meghan; three nephews, Nathan, Jared and Dillon; untold numbers of cousins and friends; and brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

Marlene’s quiet, friendly, loving spirit was evident to all knew her. Internet posts from across the country and across the years show the tremendous influence she had on others. We are sad for the loss we suffer, and we rejoice that she can walk with God without pain and sing with the angels in heaven.